title: A clinical evaluation of the Accutracker--a lightweight ambulatory blood pressure monitor.
abstract: An evaluation of the 'Accutracker', a new lightweight ambulatory blood pressure monitor, has been carried out in 14 subjects. Using a cross-over study design, BP readings obtained by the monitor were compared with BP measurements carried out in the opposite arm by a random zero sphygmomanometer. Both the systolic and diastolic blood pressures obtained by the 'Accutracker' were lower than the corresponding mercury sphygmomanometer readings (mean bias -5.6 and -7.0 mmHg respectively). The reproducibility of the monitor readings was significantly and substantially poorer than those obtained with the sphygmomanometer even when machine-flagged suspect values were excluded from the analysis. The results suggest that the data obtained from this device should be interpreted with caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braithwaite
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Newcombe
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lazarus
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results