Blood pressure assessments of pregnant women in a Day Assessment Unit – A prospective observational study

Abstract

Aim We investigated the optimum time and number of observations for assessing women in the Day Assessment Unit. Methods A single centre prospective observational study was undertaken. Women referred for blood pressure assessment in the Day Assessment Unit were recruited. Results The blood pressure of women who subsequently developed preeclampsia was noted to change differently over the time of observation compared to women with other hypertensive disorders, most notably in the first and third hour (p = 0.042), although the averages at each hour did not differ between these two groups. Conclusions Mean blood pressure measured over four hours did not significantly differ compared to blood pressure measured over one hour. Women who subsequently developed preeclampsia had a different pattern of blood pressure change whilst in the Day Assessment Unit.