A new Australian study has found thousands of Australians may have undiagnosed and untreated high blood pressure, after one in five of the study’s 4000 participants were found to have ‘masked hypertension’ not identified in clinical tests.
Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute specialist Professor Geoff Head said the usual clinic techniques for assessing hypertension has limitations and that the new report shows changes to screening and treatment plans are needed.
Researchers said high blood pressure diagnoses are crucial because of their link to stroke and heart attacks and that Medicare should subsidise 24-hour blood pressure testing.