Blood Pressure Assessment Across the Lifespan: Improving Clinical Research and Clinical Practice

Hypertension is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its prevalence is high in the United States and worldwide. Adequate characterization of blood pressure (BP) is essential for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. However, BP assessment can be challenging because of the unique influences across the lifespan, disease conditions, and physical environmental context. Moreover, complex uncertainties in BP assessment may contribute to underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and preventable morbidity and mortality. Recent advances in BP measurement devices have enabled comprehensive characterization of BP that could dramatically change how hypertension is managed to optimize CVD risk reduction, avoid complications of low BP, and improve hypertension control rates. To address the rapidly evolving landscape in BP assessment, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the U.S. National Institutes of Health convened a 2-day workshop of clinicians and researchers in December 2024. The present report summarizes the topics presented and discussed during the meeting, which focused on the latest evidence on BP assessment as well as obstacles and knowledge gaps to be addressed to advance BP assessment in clinical practice and research.