INNOVATIONS in pharmacy

Using 15-Minute Serial Blood Pressures as an Alternative to Measuring a Single Blood Pressure

Ann M. Philbrick

University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems

Caroline Carlin

University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

Ila M. Harris

University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

Christopher Fallert

University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24926/iip.v14i4.5565

Keywords: blood pressure, hypertension, serial measurement

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Abstract

Thirty-minute office blood pressure (OBP-30) is an alternative to ambulatory blood pressure (BP) measurement, yet is impractical to implement. This study aimed to determine whether unattended BP readings over 15 minutes would result in a similar probability of obtaining a BP of <140/90. Sixty-seven adults self-described as having high BP were analyzed. BP was measured at baseline and every 5 minutes for 15 minutes with the initial reading compared to the average of the last three readings (OBP-15). Compared to baseline, there was a decline in both average systolic (4.2 points) and diastolic (2.8 points) BP. The probability of BP control predicted by multivariate model was 71.6% at baseline and 78.0% using OBP-15 (p=0.011). The increase in BP control from initial to OBP-15 measurement was significant for indigenous or persons of color compared to whites, and men compared to women. OBP-15 is convenient and results in lower BP readings and higher probability of BP control compared to the initial reading.