Misdiagnosis of hypertension rife: AusDiab study

Ambulatory BP monitoring needs to be subsidised, say researchers
BP cuff

Australia’s first population-based study using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has uncovered widespread underdiagnosis of hypertension, prompting a call for a new Medicare item for 24-hour monitoring.

Researchers from the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne analysed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure among 508 adults (mean age 59), a subcohort enrolled in the third Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab3).