The American Heart Association recommends ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for diagnosing hypertension in children.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is being used increasingly in adults to evaluate changes in blood pressure (BP) and to assess risk for end-organ damage. ABPM is more accurate than clinic BP monitoring and self-measurement and is a better predictor of end-organ damage caused by hypertension. The American Heart Association (AHA) has published a scientific statement with recommendations for standard assessment of ABPM in children and adolescents. The recommendations are driven by expert opinion because no outcome data on the effects of ABPM in children are available. (JW Pediatr Adolesc Med Jun 13 2007, and Aug 12 2002).
Indications for ABPM: