Ambulatory BP monitoring

High blood pressure is a silent condition that does not have specific clinical manifestations until target organ damage develops. High blood pressure confers a substantial risk of cardiovascular disease (particularly in the presence of concomitant risk factors), much of which is at least partially reversible with treatment.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) involves the use of a non-invasive device to measure blood pressure every 15 to 30 minutes over a 24-hour period (or longer). These devices are attached to the patient by a trained technician. A series of calibrations are taken to ensure the device is giving accurate readings. These 24-hour measurements are stored in the device and are later interpreted by the physician.