The value of self-measured home blood pressure in predicting stroke

Abstract

Home blood pressure measurements more accurately and reliably reflect target organ damage and the prognosis of cardiovascular disease than conventional blood pressure measurements. All evidence of the value of home blood pressure measurement in predicting stroke is currently derived from a population-based prospective study in Japan (the Ohasama study). The authors demonstrated that home blood pressure measurement provides more useful prognostic information on stroke than conventional blood pressure measurements. The predictive value of home blood pressure measurement increased progressively with the number of measurements. Even the initial-first home blood pressure values (one measurement) showed a significantly greater relation with stroke risk than conventional blood pressure values (mean of two measurements). Home blood pressure measurement increased the predictive power of categorizations of guidelines compared with conventional blood pressure measurement. Home blood pressure measurement is a useful tool to predict future risk of stroke.