 Measurement of blood pressure was performed five times by the nursing staff in right upper limb, with patient sitting, using a cuff of appropriate size to the arm and a validated automatic oscillometric device Dixtal, DX 2710, São Paulo, Brazil The mean of the last two measurements was calculated and recorded as long as the difference between these measurements was less than 4 mm Hg. If after the 5 measurements the difference between the last two ones was higher than 4 mm Hg, the measurement was repeated until the difference between the two measurements was less than 4 mm Hg. 