High blood pressure (HBP) is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor which prevalence is gradually increasing. Reducing blood pressure (BP) significantly decreases cardiovascular morbi-mortality. Nevertheless, BP control remains insufficient: only 51% of French patients using antihypertensive drugs achieve the BP control targets.

HBP is mostly diagnosed and managed in primary care. Nevertheless, office BP measurements are unreliable for BP control and poorer predict target organ damage. Ambulatory BP measurements are recommended for HBP diagnosis and follow-up. 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the most cost-effective strategy. Its superiority has been demonstrated for HBP diagnosis and cardiovascular prognosis.

In France, ABPM is poorly available and little studied in primary care. Therefore, the investigators conducted a regional prospective study to analyze the feasibility and benefits of ABPM among primary care hypertensive patients in daily practice.

Inclusion criteria:

• patients aged over 18 years
• with an office inclusion consultation systolic/diastolic BP≥ 140/90 mmHg
• able to understand French language and to consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria:

• patients aged < 18 years
• with conditions preventing technically adequate ABPM (chronic atrial fibrillation)
• with contraindications to ABPM (musculotendinous disease of the upper limb, past history of phlebitis of the upper limb or phlebitis in progress, past history of olecranon bursitis or bursitis in progress)
• with previous ABPM in the 12 months prior to the inclusion consultation
• pregnant or lactating women

Twenty-three general practitioners located in the four departments of the Burgundy region and practising in seven different health structures were recruited on a voluntary basis.

Primary care patients with an office high blood pressure were included, whatever their reason for consultation, medical past history or ongoing treatment