• Hunaina Shahab, Hamza Sohail Khan, Aysha Almas, Sohail Abrar Khan, and Aamir Hameed Khan.
• Resident, Department of Medicine, The Aga Khan University, Karachi.
• J Coll Physicians Surg Pak. 2015 Mar 1; 25 (3): 206-9.

ObjectiveTo determine the difference in Blood Pressure (BP) readings taken before, during and after the clinic encounter.Study DesignDescriptive study.Place And Duration Of StudyCardiology Clinic, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to August 2013.MethodologyHypertensive and normotensive participants aged ³ 18 years were recruited. Pre-clinic BP was measured by a nurse and in-clinic BP by a physician. After 15 minutes, two post-clinic BP readings were taken at 1 minute interval. All readings were taken using Omron HEM7221-E.ResultsOut of 180 participants, males were 57% and 130 (71%) were hypertensive. Mean SBP (Systolic BP) taken preclinic, in-clinic, post-clinic 1 and post-clinic 2 were: 126 ± 20 mmHg, 131 ± 23 mmHg, 126 ± 20 mmHg and 121 ± 21 mmHg respectively (p < 0.001). Mean DBP (Diastolic BP) taken pre-clinic, in-clinic, post-clinic 1 and post-clinic 2 were 77 ± 12 mmHg, 81 ± 13 mmHg, 79 ± 12 mmHg and 79 ± 11 mmHg respectively (p < 0.001).ConclusionBP taken in the post-clinic setting may significantly be the lowest reading in a clinic encounter, making in-clinic BP unreliable to diagnose or manage hypertension.

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