Abstract
Shorter-term alternatives to 24-h monitoring of BP [blood pressure] were analyzed in 6 hypertensive patients. Average 24-h BP were lower than averages during a 2-h morning period or those based on either 3 readings or a single reading taken at 0800 h. The systolic and diastolic BP 2-h averages correlated more strongly with the 24-h averages than did the 3-reading or 1-reading alternatives. The average of serial BP readings obtained during a 2-h morning period is a consistent predictor of the whole-day BP and represents it more closely than the conventionally used single reading.