Blood pressure measurements were obtained from each patient
(using the right arm) in the seated position, using a standard
mercury sphygmomanometer (Erkameter 3000; ERKA, Bad Tolz,
Germany) (Korotkoff I and V) with a cuff of appropriate size. BP was
measured by the same investigator at each visit, in the morning
before daily drug intake and after the patient had rested for ≥10 min
in a quiet room. Three successiveBPreadings were obtained at 1-min
intervals, and the mean of the 3 readings was calculated.