Summary
A recent quality improvement study published in the American Journal of Hypertension evaluated the accuracy of shorter automated office blood pressure (AOBP) protocols compared to traditional longer protocols in a clinical setting. The findings demonstrate that the shortest AOBP protocol (3-minute delay, followed by 2 readings at 30-second intervals) yielded statistically comparable measurements to the longest protocol (5-minute delay, followed by 2 readings at 60-second intervals), with no significant differences in hypertension classification.
Researchers analyzed over 200 patients undergoing AOBP with varying delay and interval configurations, comparing results to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
The study findings support the feasibility of time-efficient AOBP implementation without compromising measurement precision. Given the logistical barriers to widespread AOBP adoption, the demonstrated equivalence of shorter protocols may promote its integration into routine clinical practice, improving hypertension diagnosis and management. Limitations include the lack of randomization, potential order effects, and staff variability, though findings align with previous randomized trials.
Sources
Lynn-Green EE, Cluett JL, Turkson-Ocran RN, et al. Clinical impact of 3- vs. 5-minute delay and 30- vs. 60-second intervals on unattended automated office blood pressure measurements. Am J Hypertens. 2025;38(3):168-177. doi:10.1093/ajh/hpae135.
This summary was created with assistance from generative artificial intelligence (Microsoft Copilot, 2025)
Featured Authors
Colin Crowe, MD
Case Western Reserve University