Background:

The diagnosis of hypertension is established by blood pressure (BP) measurements in doctor (DO) or nursing offices (NO). Frecuently BP measurements are recorded as multiples of ten. This can lead to inaccuracy in diagnosis and control of hypertension.

Objetive:

To determine the percentage of BP measurements ending in zero in DO and NO, in the records of two health primary centers of Salta city.

Methods:

Observational study from february to december of 2018. Digital blood pressure monitor was used. Each patient BP was measured twice, first in NO and then in DO. Data were analyzed using the Chi2 and Wilcoxon tests.

Results:

311 indivuals were enrolled, 60,77% were female. The average age was 56,15 ± 13,8 years. In NO the systolic BP and diastolic BP ending in zero were 36 and 40,51% respectively, while in DO were 11,58 and 7,72% (p <0,0001). The systolic BP and diastolic BP ending in zero simultaneously in NO was 30,87%, while in DO was 0,64% (p <0,0001).

Conclusions:

The systolic BP and the diastolic BP records ending in zero were three and five times more frequent in NO than in DO. The systolic BP and diastolic BP ending in zero simultaneously in NO were forty-eight times more frequent than in DO. These results reinforce the need of health personnel permanent training to improve precision for measuring and recording BP in medical centers.