Since 1930, blood pressure (Bp) measurement has been a widely accepted tool for cardiovascular assessment. It is relied upon in a variety of healthcare settings including identifying clinical deterioration, informing titration of vasopressors and guiding goal-directed treatment. Inaccurate Bp values, therefore, can be detrimental to the quality of healthcare received by patients.
The following factors identified by a recent systematic review can lead to inconsistent or inaccurate readings:
Acute alcohol use
Alcohol has bidirectional effect on Bp measurements. Increases are mostly observed when measured within 1hr of consumption, and all significant decreases are observed 1-4 h post-consumption . . .
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