Objective: To determine the difference in Blood Pressure (BP) readings taken before, during and after the clinic encounter.
Study design: Descriptive study.
Place and duration of study: Cardiology Clinic, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to August 2013.
Methodology: Hypertensive and normotensive participants aged ³ 18 years were recruited. Pre-clinic BP was measured by a nurse and in-clinic BP by a physician. After 15 minutes, two post-clinic BP readings were taken at 1 minute interval. All readings were taken using Omron HEM7221-E.
Results: Out of 180 participants, males were 57% and 130 (71%) were hypertensive. Mean SBP (Systolic BP) taken preclinic, in-clinic, post-clinic 1 and post-clinic 2 were: 126 ± 20 mmHg, 131 ± 23 mmHg, 126 ± 20 mmHg and 121 ± 21 mmHg respectively (p < 0.001). Mean DBP (Diastolic BP) taken pre-clinic, in-clinic, post-clinic 1 and post-clinic 2 were 77 ± 12 mmHg, 81 ± 13 mmHg, 79 ± 12 mmHg and 79 ± 11 mmHg respectively (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: BP taken in the post-clinic setting may significantly be the lowest reading in a clinic encounter, making in-clinic BP unreliable to diagnose or manage hypertension.