Effect on measured blood pressure levels with electronic and mercury sphygmomanometer in both the sitting and the supine position

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Objective To investigate the difference between electronic sphygmomanometer and mercury sphygmomanometer in blood pressure (BP) measurement in both the sitting and the supine position and to instruct clinicians and nurses to measure blood pressure accurately with electronic sphygmomanometer.Methods Systolic and diastolic pressure of 142 subjects aged 19 ～ 71 ( mean 48.7 ± 9.1 ) years were measured synchronously with mercury sphygmomanometer and electronic sphygmomanometer respectively by two trained nurses in the bare upper arms in both the sitting and the supine position. Blood pressure values between the two sphygmomanometers in the same arm were compared in a self -control manner. Results There was no significant difference of systolic and diastolic pressure values ( systolic BP of 119.8 ± 16.0 vs 119.2 ± 17.6 mm Hg in the left arm, diastolic BP of 75.5 ± 9.6 vs 76.9 ± 9.0 mm Hg in the left arm, systolic BP of 121.4 ± 14.7 vs 119.2 ± 15. 1 mm Hg in the right arm, diastolic BP of 75.9 ± 9.9 vs 77.5 ± 11.3 mm Hg in the right arm)between electronic sphygmomanometer and mercury sphygmomanometer in the sitting position (t = -0.315,1. 560, - 1. 472, 1. 156, P ＞ 0.05 ). There was also no significant difference of systolic pressure values (119.8±14.6 vs 119.6±13.6 mm Hg, t = -0.370,P＞0.05) in the left arm in the supine position.However, there were significant differences of diastolic BP (75.5 ± 10.3 vs 75.6 ±9.2 mm Hg, t =5. 172,P = 0. 000) in the left arm, systolic BP ( 123. 1 ± 15.4 vs 118.9 ± 14.0 mm Hg, t = - 5.402, P = 0.000 ) in the right arm, diastolic BP (75.9 ± 11.3 vs 77.4 ± 9.3 mm Hg, t = 2.979, P = 0. 003) in the right arm in the supine position. Conclusions Mercury sphygmomanometer can be replaced with electronic sphygmomanometer in clinic practice when patients were in the sitting position. Key words: Body position; Electronic sphygmomanometer; Mercury sphygmomanometer; Blood pressure measurement