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Cardiovascular Risk Stratification and Blood Pressure Variability on Ambulatory and Home Blood Pressure Measurement

  • Blood Pressure Monitoring and Management (G Ogedegbe and JA Staessen, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Variability is a phenomenon attributed to most biological processes and is a particular feature of blood pressure (BP) that concerns many physicians regarding the clinical meaning and the impact on their clinical practice. In this review, we assessed the role of different indices of BP variability in cardiovascular risk stratification. We reviewed the indices of BP variability derived from ambulatory BP monitoring (day-to-night ratio, morning surge of BP, and short-term BP variability) and home BP measurement (standardized conventional BP measurement and self-BP measurement), and summarized our recent results with the intention to provide a clear message for clinical practice. Conclusion: BP variability, either derived from ambulatory BP measurement or home BP measurement does not substantially refine cardiovascular risk prediction over and beyond the BP level. Practitioners should be aware that BP level remains the main modifiable risk factor derived from BP measurement and contributes to improving the control of hypertension and adverse health outcomes.

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José Boggia, Kei Asayama, Yan Li, Tine Willum Hansen, Luis Mena, and Rudolph Schutte declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Correspondence to José Boggia.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Blood Pressure Monitoring and Management

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Boggia, J., Asayama, K., Li, Y. et al. Cardiovascular Risk Stratification and Blood Pressure Variability on Ambulatory and Home Blood Pressure Measurement. Curr Hypertens Rep 16, 470 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-014-0470-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-014-0470-8

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