The Tecumseh Blood Pressure Study. Normative data on blood pressure self-determination

Arch Intern Med. 1990 Jun;150(6):1209-13.

Abstract

In Tecumseh, Mich, we obtained blood pressure (BP) self-determination data in 608 healthy adults (327 men, 281 women; average age, 32.6 +/- 3.5 years) representing a wide range of educational backgrounds. The average (+/- SD) home BP (average 12.7 readings over 1 week) was 120.7/74.8 +/- 10.4/8.6 mm Hg for men and 110.9/69.9 +/- 10.1/7.7 for women. One hundred thirty-three subjects remeasured their home BP 1 year later and a strong correlation between the two readings was obtained (r = .70). Large-scale BP self-determination is feasible. Based on the BP distribution in Tecumseh, the upper limit of normalcy for home BP (2 SDs above the mean) is 142/92 mm Hg for men and 131/85 mm Hg for women.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Blood Pressure Determination / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monitoring, Physiologic / methods*
  • Reference Values
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Care / methods*