Blood Pressure and the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study

Blood Pressure and the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study Mary Burden , RGN, MPH and A.C. Burden , MD, FRCP Address correspondence and reprint requests to Mary Burden, RGN, MPH, 17 Westminster Road, Stoneygate, Leicester LE5 4PW, U.K. Abstract Control of blood pressure is important to people with diabetes. This article provides background information on the design and results of the U.K. Prospective Diabetes Study blood pressure study and the potential difficulties of translating this landmark study into practice. The article addresses the practical and quality assurance issues surrounding blood pressure and offers information about potential pitfalls that can lead to errors of measurement. The article also explores methods of patient participation in the measurement of blood pressure and in decision making about control of high blood pressure and explains why a participatory approach is needed. Footnotes Mary Burden, RGN, MPH, is a nurse consultant in diabetes and A.C. Burden, MD, FRCP, is a consultant physician at the University Hospitals of Leicester, U.K. Note of disclosure: Both authors serve on an advisory panel for Merk Sharpe & Dohme, a manufacturer of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of hypertension. American Diabetes Association