The role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in current clinical practice

Hypertension continues to be the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke, kidney disease and cardiovascular disease, and it also plays a key role in a significant proportion of preventable deaths globally. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is an underutilised tool that augments the accurate diagnosis of hypertension. Out-of-office blood pressure measurements such as ABPM, permits the diagnosis of white coat hypertension and masked hypertension as well as determining a patient's nocturnal dipping status. These common clinical phenotypes have relevance with regard to clinical outcomes and may impact management. Overall, the diagnosis and management of hypertension presents numerous challenges, requiring the complementary use of multimodal blood pressure monitoring. Familiarity with the use of ABPM is important in the optimal management of patients, particularly as it becomes more accessible with the recent introduction of a Medicare Benefits Schedule item number.