Hyperbaric indices (HBI) assess the extent and timing of deviant blood pressure in patients under treatment.

Fourteen patients provided data from ambulatory monitoring at 7.5-min intervals for 24h. Rhythm characteristics and measures of blood pressure excess (hyperbaric indices along the 24-h scale) are presented in mmHg/h. A 10-year projection of blood pressure excess exceeded the 1,000,000 mmHg/h limit for systolic blood pressure in 4 cases and for diastolic blood pressure in 1 case. In such cases, additional treatment is urgently indicated, whether or not the mean blood pressure is near or even below the limits indicated by current guidelines.