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ABSTRACT
Background: Although inaccurate, non-reproducible blood pressure values can result from non-standardized assessments, recommended approaches to standardize blood pressure measurement are often not followed in research studies. Methods: An expert consensus of national and international health and scientific organizations developed recommended minimum standards for assessing blood pressure in research subjects where: 1) blood pressure or hypertension is a major endpoint, or 2) blood pressure is likely a major mediator of the research outcome. Results: Minimum research standards are presented for training of observers, technical aspects of assessing blood pressure, and equipment for both adults and children. Limitations: The standards are based on prior recommendations some of which did not conform to the current evidence based methods. Conclusions: All new research should require adherence to these minimum standards on the patient populations described above. Readers need to use caution in interpreting studies if the standards are not met in the defined populations.
Acknowledgments
The TRUE Consortium would like to acknowledge the contributions of Mark Niebylski, Kimbree Redburn, and Aaron Lucko in supporting the TRUE consortium.
Declaration of interest
Specific conflicts of interest for each member of the TRUE Consortium can be found in Appendix A. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Funding
Funding was provided by the Heart and Stroke Foundation (Canada) (PG-11-0531)-Canadian Institute for Health Research Chair in Hypertension Prevention and Control with in kind support from the World Hypertension League.