1572 – Diagnosis of hypertension using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in patients with clinic blood pressure ≥ 140/90mmHg and ≤ 180/110mmHg

New MBS item.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) involves the patient wearing a portable blood pressure (BP) measuring device for a specified period (usually ≥ 24 hours), during which periodic BP measurements (usually every 15 to 30 minutes during the day and every 30 to 60 minutes during the night) are automatically taken via a cuff or sensor worn on the upper arm. The resulting series of BP readings, taken throughout the person’s normal daytime activities and during sleep, provides a robust assessment of the impact of BP on the person’s cardiovascular system (BP load). ABPM systems provide measures of BP and heart rate during the daytime, night-time, and while awake and asleep. The data can be used to calculate a range of parameters associated with cardiovascular disease risk, including BP variability, BP load and morning surge BP.

Type: Investigative

High blood pressure currently is defined as a BP reading ≥ 140/90mmHg usually taken using a sphygmomanometer as part of a standard consultation with either a General Practitioner or a Specialist in hypertension.

• PASC meeting: 11 April 2019
• ESC meeting: 13 to 14 February 2020
• MSAC meeting: 3 April 2020