NICE Quality Standards Recommend ABPM
NICE Quality Standards Recommend ABPM
NICE has published a new quality standard for the management of hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults, advocating that a person-centred approach is fundamental in delivering high-quality care to adults with the condition.
NICE quality standards describe high-priority areas for quality improvement in a defined care or service area.
The quality standard recommends people with suspected hypertension are offered ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension. ABPM is the recording of a patient's blood pressure at regular intervals under normal living and working conditions, usually across a 24 hour period.
Speaking on behalf of Blood Pressure UK, Professor Gareth Beevers comments:"We are pleased to see NICE recommending that 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), or failing that, home blood pressure measurement, should be routine in the evaluation of recently diagnosed hypertensives. This is also the ideal time to encourage lifestyle corrections such as; avoiding or reducing obesity, reducing salt intake, gradually increase exercise and limiting alcohol consumption."
The new quality standard is available on the NICE website