Blood pressure cuff comparability study.

Abstract

Manufacturer-supplied blood pressure (BP) cuffs are part of the automatic oscillometric BP devices algorithm. This study assessed the differences in BP values using the Omron HEM 907-XL (Omron) device with two types of cuffs: the Baum cuff (BC) and the supplied Omron cuff (OC). A sample of 102 adults participated in the study, 34 per cuff size (adult, large, and extra-large). After a 5-min resting period, three pairs of BP determinations (systolic and diastolic) were taken simultaneously on both arms. One arm was cuffed with a BC and the other arm was cuffed with an OC. The cuffs were switched to opposite arms after 5 min of rest. The order was decided randomly as to which cuff was applied to which arm first. The BP readings were highly correlated between the cuffs (systolic BP, r=0.98; diastolic BP, r=0.98). The overall mean differences (BC-OC) were 2.66 mmHg (SD=3.9 mmHg) for systolic BP (P<0.05) and 0.33 mmHg (SD=2.03 mmHg) for diastolic BP (P>0.05). Increased cuff size corresponded to increased differences in systolic BP values (adult: 1.51 mmHg; large: 2.56 mmHg; and extra-large: 3.9 mmHg; P<0.05). For diastolic BP values, a statistically significant difference was observed only for adult cuff size (difference=1.31 mmHg, SD=1.34 mmHg, P<0.05). Using a BC with the Omron could result in higher systolic BP readings and higher diastolic BP readings with the adult cuff size.