HTA Details
Twenty-Four-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Hypertension
- Publication date
-
2012-May-01
- Status
- Final
- Topic Area
- Cardiac Cardiovascular
- Recommendation
-
Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee Recommendations
- Current use of conventional/clinic/office blood pressure monitoring should be optimal and in accordance with established guidelines
- For diagnosed patients in whom there is clinical suspicion for white coat hypertension (i.e., ongoing discrepancy between in-clinic blood pressure and nonclinic measured blood pressure), 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be made available
- Ministry Response
-
The Ministry has reviewed this recommendation and in light of new hypertension guidelines has asked Ontario Health to consider prioritizing this topic again.
-
To read the full OHTAC Recommendation Report for this topic, contact our Health Innovation team using the contact form to request a digital copy.
Achieving accurate blood pressure measurement through conventional/clinic/office monitoring can be challenging because blood pressure may vary naturally throughout the day. Also some individuals with normal everyday blood pressure may exhibit higher blood pressure at the doctor’s office, known as white-coat hypertension, or observers may overemphasize the expected results (known as observer bias).
A 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor is a standard inflatable cuff attached to a small computer weighing about 500 grams, which is worn over the shoulder or on a belt. It records an individual’s blood pressure every 15 to 30 minutes during usual daily activities over a 24-hour period. Use of this device can help avoid some of the pitfalls of conventional/clinic/office blood pressure monitoring, such as observer bias and white-coat hypertension.
Last Updated: February 24, 2026
