Oscillometric and auscultatory blood pressure measurement in the assessment of blood pressure and target organ damage

Abstract

The objective of this study was to elucidate the usefulness of both the oscillometric blood pressure (OBP) and auscultatory blood pressure (ABP) measurement technique in the assessment of blood pressure (BP) and target organ damage in the general population. We studied a sample of the Finnish adult population aged 25-74 years. Four hundred and eighty-four study participants underwent a health examination including measurements of 24-h urine albumin, echocardiographic variables of the left ventricle, intima media thickness and pulse wave velocity. OBP and ABP were measured simultaneously four times by beginning the OBP measurements in random order from the right or left arm and by switching the devices between hands after two measurements. The mean OBP was 126.7/77.4 mmHg and the mean ABP was 124.5/78.0 mmHg. Systolic difference between OBP compared with ABP was large in men. Male sex, higher arm circumference and lower systolic BP were independent determinants explaining the greater difference between systolic OBP compared with ABP. Diabetes, higher arm circumference and higher pulse wave velocity were independent determinants explaining greater difference between diastolic OBP compared with ABP. The correlations of target organ damage between OBP and ABP were equally good. At population level OBP and ABP measurements yielded similar results in relation to BP level and the indicators of target organ damage, probably due to the simultaneous and controlled measurement protocol, and to the sample of participants from the general population. It is, however, recommendable to use either OBP or ABP measurements for individual patients to avoid unnecessary interdevice variability.