Home blood pressure in children and adolescents: a comparison with office and ambulatory blood pressure measurements

Aim: To compare BP measurements of children and adolescents using different methods office BP (OBP), ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP measurement (HBPM) and to study their correlations. Method: Individuals were evaluated between 5 and 15 years of age who had been referred because of a previous high BP. OBP was measured with the OMRON‐705CP. Three measurements were carried out at 5‐min intervals. HBPM were taken using the same device, two measurements at 5‐min intervals in the morning and in the evening during 7 days. ABPM was performed using the SpaceLabs 90207 monitors. Results: A total of 109 children and adolescents were evaluated (9.82 ± 2.63 years), 52.3% boys, 56.9% non‐white. The office systolic BP (SBP) was lower than in daytime ABPM (p < 0.001) but similar HBPM (p = 0.294), and the office diastolic BP (DBP) was lower than daytime ABPM (p < 0.001) and in HBPM (p = 0.035). The SBP and DBP at HBPM was lower than daytime ABPM (p < 0.001). Daytime ambulatory BP was more closely associated with home readings (SBP r = 0.731 and DBP r = 0.616) than with office’s readings (SBP r = 0.653 and DBP r = 0.394). Conclusion: The BP of children and adolescents varies depending on the place and manner of measurement. ABPM presents better correlation with HBPM than with the office measurements.