Changes in blood pressure in the sitting and standing positions in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Changes in blood pressure in the sitting and standing positions in hypertensive patientsMost guidelines for management of hypertension do not give special preference to a specific position of patient during blood pressure (BP) measurement, suggesting that BP readings taken with patients sitting, supine and standing are equivalent. The objective of this study was to examine whether there was any difference between BP readings with hypertensive participants comfortably sitting on chair and those with participants standing with the arm supported horizontally at the right atrial level. BP was measured twice each for 168 hypertensive patients (medicated and unmedicated) at sitting, standing and sitting positions, respectively, with a mercury-filled column sphygmomanometer. We found significantly lower in systolic and diastolic BP readings in standing position than in sitting position. The present study indicates that the BP readings are related to the posture; thus, BP measured in different positions cannot automatically be regarded as equivalent.

Correct placement of blood pressure cuff during blood pressure measurement

“…However, Ersoy et al . stated that blood pressure measurement is one of the common, and perhaps, most inaccurate procedures performed by healthcare professionals in practice 3 . The factors affecting blood pressure reading include use of inappropriate cuff size, site of measurement, position of the arm, use of the bell or the diaphragm of stethoscope and activity prior to blood pressure measurement 4 .…”