American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

An average 24-hour ABPM of 125/75 mm Hg corresponds to a clinic blood pressure of what value?

1. 120/70 mm Hg

2. 125/75 mm Hg

3. 130/80 mm Hg

4. 135/85 mm Hg

The correct answer is: 130/80 mm Hg

In general, the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) values and clinic blood pressure can vary due to a phenomenon known as "white coat syndrome," where patients experience elevated blood pressure readings in a clinical setting due to anxiety or stress. An average 24-hour ABPM of 125/75 mm Hg typically indicates that the patient's blood pressure is well-controlled during daily activities and likely lower than what would be recorded in a clinical setting. It is generally understood that a clinic blood pressure reading is often higher than the average ABPM reading, and this is reflected in the choice of 130/80 mm Hg. This choice aligns with the expectation that clinic measurements might typically be around 5 mm Hg higher in systolic blood pressure compared to the 24-hour ABPM averages, which corresponds to how many clinicians interpret and adjust blood pressure readings between different assessment settings. The chosen answer takes this clinical context into account, indicating a probable higher clinic average reading.