Advice on optimal blood pressure measurement could change next year to reflect improving technology and the lack of available time in general practice, a leading cardiologist says.

Heart Foundation chief medical adviser Professor Garry Jennings said current guidance remained evidence-based, but may be updated after eight years.

It followed presentations at November’s Hypertension Australia 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting showing that GPs found it difficult to comply with blood pressure measurement protocols, largely because of time constraints.

“The Heart Foundation notes that technology has improved and that a number of ways of collecting blood pressure that would better complement primary care workflows and remain accurate … could now be considered for the new guideline,” Professor Jennings told AusDoc.