Are there consequences of labeling patients with prehypertension? An experimental study of effects on blood pressure and quality of life.

Objective: The prehypertension classification was introduced to facilitate prevention efforts among patients at increased risk for hypertension. Although patients who have been told that they have hypertension report worse outcomes than unaware hypertensives, little is known about whether or not prehypertension labeling has negative effects. We evaluated the effects of labeling individuals with prehypertension on blood pressure and health-related quality of life three months later.

Automatic office blood pressure measured without doctors or nurses present.

Background: We evaluated the agreement between office blood pressure (OBP) measured by a mercury sphygmomanometer (Sphyg) and an automatic (Auto) device without any observers, and compared Auto and Sphyg OBP with ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) and home blood pressure (HBP).

Methods: OBP was measured in 75 hypertensive patients at two sites using an automatic monitor without a doctor or a nurse present and by Sphyg during three clinic visits. Between visits, monitoring of ABP and HBP was also performed.