Denton Combs

Document Type

Thesis - University Access Only

Award Date

1999

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Graduate Nursing

Abstract

Accurate blood pressure measurement is essential in screening for and diagnosing hypertension. The detection, diagnosis, and management of hypertension depend upon the correct assessment of blood pressure. Hypertension is potentially a serious state and leads to the development of many other disease processes. Early treatment of hypertension depends upon accurate assessment of blood pressure. Recommendations for assessment of blood pressure must be followed to diagnose and treat hypertension properly. The American Heart Association recommends measuring blood pressure in both arms at the initial visit, using the highest reading, and using that arm in subsequent visits. These guidelines are not being followed in the practice setting and there may be a significant number of hypertensive patients who go undiagnosed and, subsequently, develop the comorbid states of the heart, vessels, kidneys, and brain. Current techniques of measuring blood pressure in only one arm may lead to missing the diagnosis of hypertension and, subsequently, not treating when treatment is indicated The problem under investigation in this study is whether or not there is a difference between right and left arm blood pressure measurement in a population of people with hyperlipidemia in a Midwestern cardiovascular clinic. A nonprobability sample of 90 adult patients who were being cared for at a large Midwestern cardiovascular clinic who have a diagnosis of hyperlipidemia, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria, who consented to be in the study, and visits the clinic during the study period. All blood pressures will be taken by research assistants who will be educated in the proper way to assess blood pressure. The first research question is there a difference between right and left systolic blood pressure measurements showed statistical significance. The range of systolic blood pressure measurement differences was from 0-46. Significance for systolic was not found p = 0.34. The second research question is there a difference between right and left diastolic blood pressure measurements showed statistical significance. The range of diastolic blood pressure measurement differences was from 0-22. The significance was p= .0001. The typical patient as could be expected with patients visiting a cardiovascular clinic had a positive history of angina or a prior myocardial infarct (87.8%), positive smoking history (60%), and male or postmenopausal women (96.7%). Overall the data indicated that blood pressure measurement needs to be performed on both right and left arms to determine it properly.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Blood pressure -- Measurement

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

65

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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