NHLBI IN THE PRESS

Blood pressure measured outside the clinic may be better predictor of cardiovascular risk among African-Americans

Measuring daytime and nighttime blood pressure outside of a clinic setting may be a better predictor of heart disease and stroke risk among African Americans than measurements taken at the clinic, a new study shows.

In the observational study, researchers evaluated blood pressure data from 1,034 African-American people enrolled in the Jackson Heart Study. They found that higher daytime and nighttime systolic blood pressures were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events, including heart disease and stroke, independent of blood pressure levels measured in the clinic.

The study, funded by NHLBI, appeared in JAMA Cardiology.