Table 3 Recommendations for home blood pressure monitoring in children and adolescents in clinical practice [4, 29, 30]
From: Home blood pressure monitoring in pediatric hypertension: the US perspective and a plan for action
Devices | • Use automated oscillometric upper-arm-cuff devices validated in children. • Prefer devices with automated memory or PC link capacity. • Use cuff size that fits the individual’s arm size (the inflatable bladder length should be 80–100% of the individual’s arm circumference and the width 40-50%, or otherwise according to the manufacturers’ instructions supported by validation study). |
Conditions | • Measurements by parents in young children, or self-measurements in adolescents. • In a quiet room, after 5 min rest in the sitting position, with back supported, arm resting at heart level, feet flat on floor, and avoid talking during rest period and measurements. |
Schedule | • Monitor blood pressure for 7 routine school days (no less than 3). • Take duplicate morning and evening measurements (before drug intake if treated) with 1 min interval. |
Interpretation | • Calculate the average of all measurements after discarding the first day. • Evaluate the average value using normalcy table for home blood pressure in children. • Average blood pressure ≥ 95th percentile for gender and height indicates home hypertension. • Home blood pressure measurement alone not to be used for treatment decisions in children. |
