Dallas-based UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers found measuring blood pressure while patients are standing improves accuracy.
The study, published in Scientific Reports, measured the blood pressure of 125 healthy patients ages 18 to 80 who had no history of hypertension, blood pressure medication or other comorbidities. The analysis found measuring blood pressure while standing on its own or in addition to sitting readings significantly improved diagnostic accuracy.
"[Measures done while sitting] has limited sensitivity and reliability as it does not reflect blood pressure in real living situations where we often stand or walk," lead author Wanpen Vongpatanasin, MD, professor of internal medicine and director of the hypertension section in the division of cardiology at UT Southwestern, said in a Nov. 6 news release. "Our study shows that measuring blood pressure in the standing position may offer a more accurate way to determine if someone has hypertension, which requires assessment of a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor or home monitoring."