End-digit preference in blood pressure recording

End-digit preference (EDP) leads to clinicians recording specific end-digits (such as zero or five) more often than is expected by chance when measuring blood pressure. This can lead to inaccuracies in the monitoring of blood pressure and the effects of anti-hypertensive treatment. In a paper published recently in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, Alsanjari and colleagues examined trends in EDP over a 10 year period. They reported a decline in both blood pressure levels and EDP over the study period but also reported that around a quarter to a third of patients still have their BP recorded with a zero end digit. The authors conclude that blood pressure should be recorded using automated blood pressure monitoring devices to help to overcome the problem of EDP.

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