Test-retest reliability of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures

The test-retest reliability of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures (ABP) was examined using correlational analyses as well as idiographic and nomothetic time-series regression analyses. Thirty normotensives (equal males and females) underwent ABP monitoring on three occasions, each of which was separated by a week. When analyzing the data, various postural positions, activities, and locations were controlled for in order to differentially assess the effects of these variables independently. Correlational analyses found the overall test-retest reliability of the ABPs to be quite good (SBP r =.84-.88, DBP r =.83-.86, HR r =.91-.95). Correlations examined within specific postural positions, activities, and locations were also significant. The time-series regression analyses used confirmed the reproducibility of the ABPs, with no greater than 20% of the subjects showing significant changes in ABPs over the three monitoring periods. Gender effects were also examined. In general, males had significantly higher systolic ABPs overall, although there was no influence of gender in terms of the test-retest reliability of the ABPs.