Frequency of office blood pressure measurements and the seasonal variability of blood pressure: results of the Hungarian Hypertension Registry

Abstract

Purpose

Hypertension is a major public health problem, thus, its timely and appropriate diagnosis and management are crucial for reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of the new Hungarian Hypertension Registry is to evaluate the blood pressure measurement practices of general practitioners (GPs), internists and cardiologists in outpatient clinics, as well as to assess the seasonal variability of blood pressure.

Materials and methods

Omron M3 IT devices were used during four-month periods between October 2018 and April 2023 in GP practices and in hypertension clinics. The blood pressure data were then transmitted online from the monitors’ cuffs to a central database using the Medistance system of Omron.

Results

Family physicians (n = 2491), and internists/cardiologists (n = 477) participated in the study. A total of 4804 821 blood pressure measurements were taken during 10 four-month evaluation periods. In the ten periods, the daily average number of measurements was between 3.0 and 5.6. Following ESH diagnostic criteria, the proportion of subjects in optimal, normal and high-normal blood pressure categories were 14, 13.4 and 16.7%, respectively. Altogether 56% of the measurements belonged to stage 1, stage 2 or stage 3 hypertension categories (31.6, 17.1 and 7.4%, respectively). On average, a difference of 5/2 mmHg was observed between winter and summer data in systolic and diastolic blood pressures, respectively. The average systolic blood pressure values were higher in GP practices with more than 2000 patients than in the ones with less than 1500 patients (141.86 mmHg versus 140.02 mmHg, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the low daily average number of blood pressure measurements indicates a limited blood pressure screening awareness/capacity in the case of Hungarian family physicians. In GP practices with more patients, blood pressure is usually less well-controlled. These results suggest that the further promotion of home blood pressure monitoring is necessary.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

• What is the background?

  • The standard method for the diagnosis of hypertension and for the control of treatment efficacy in hypertensive patients is office blood pressure measurement.

  • Until now we had no real-life data on the blood pressure measurement practices of general practitioners (GPs), internists and cardiologists.

  • Although seasonal differences in blood pressure values are well known, we had no data on the extent of these changes.

• What is new?

  • In this real-world, nationwide observational study we were able to measure the frequency of blood pressure measurements in the daily practice of GPs, internists and cardiologists in Hungary, which was found to be very low compared to the number of patients they treat. In practices with more patients, blood pressure is generally less well-controlled.

  • We could also detect a significant seasonal variation in systolic and diastolic blood pressure values over the observed time periods.

• What is the impact?

  • The low daily average number of blood pressure measurements indicates a limited blood pressure screening awareness/capacity in the case of Hungarian family physicians, supporting the further promotion of home blood pressure measurement.

  • The marked seasonal blood pressure changes demonstrated by our study require attention and the individual adjustment of treatment in different seasons.

Keywords:

• Hypertension
• blood pressure measurement
• office blood pressure
• seasonal variability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The study received an unrestricted scientific grant from Egis Pharmaceutical Ltd.