BP Measurement in Clinical Practice: Time to SPRINT to Guideline-Recommended Protocols

Abstract

Hypertension is the leading chronic disease risk factor in the world and is especially important in patients with CKD, nearly 90% of whom have hypertension. Recently, in the Systolic BP Intervention Trial (SPRINT), intensive lowering of clinic systolic BP to a target <120 mm Hg, compared with a standard BP target of <140 mm Hg, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. However, because BP was measured unobserved using an automated device, some investigators have questioned the ability to translate SPRINT results into routine clinical practice, in which measurement of BP is typically less standardized. In this review, we discuss the BP measurement techniques used in major observational studies and clinical trials that form the evidence base for our current approach to treating hypertension, evaluate the effect of measurement technique on BP readings, and explore how ambulatory BP data from the SPRINT trial may inform this discussion. We conclude by arguing for implementation of guideline-recommended BP measurement techniques in routine clinical practice.