Target Blood Pressure Values in Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

Introduction: 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines have recommended 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to assess hypotensive therapy in many circumstances. Recommended target blood pressure in office blood pressure measurements is between 120/70 and 130/80 mmHg. Such targets for 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring lacks.

Aim: We aimed to define target values of blood pressure in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in hypertensive patients.

Methods: Office blood pressure measurements and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data were collected from 1313 hypertensive patients and sorted following increasing systolic (SBP)/diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in office blood pressure measurements. The corresponding 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to office blood pressure measurements values were calculated.

Results: Values 130/80 mmHg in office blood pressure measurements correspond in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: night-time SBP/DBP mean: 113.74/66.95 mmHg; daytime SBP/DBP mean: 135.02/81.78 mmHg and 24-h SBP/DBP mean: 130.24/78.73 mmHg. Values 120/70 mmHg in office blood pressure measurements correspond in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: night-time SBP/DBP mean: 109.50/63.43 mmHg; daytime SBP/DBP mean: 131.01/78.47 mmHg and 24-h SBP/DBP mean: 126.36/75.31 mmHg.

Conclusions: The proposed blood pressure target values in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring complement the therapeutic target indicated in the ESC/ESH recommendations and improves 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring usefulness in clinical practice.