title: Pulse pressure as a function of cuff width.
abstract: Pulse pressure was investigated by indirect sphygmomanometry using two different cuff widths, standard (12 cm) versus correct (20% wider than arm diameter). Following the American Heart Association's recommendation for arterial pressure measurements, 7 cuffs of various widths (8 to 14 cm) were used as correct cuffs on 900 subjects; in only 50 was the standard cuff appropriate. Pulse pressure as a function of cuff width was significantly lower (P less than 0.001) with the standard cuff on subjects with diastolic pressure less than 90 mmHg (36.4 +/- 0.3 mmHg vs 41.8 +/- 0.3 mmHg) and above 90 mmHg (39.6 +/- 1.2 mmHg vs 43.8 +/- 1.3 mmHg). Mean systolic and diastolic arterial pressures were underestimated by 12.7 mmHg and 7.7 mmHg, respectively. These results suggest that cuff width influences data obtained by indirect sphygmomanometry, producing over- or underestimates when the ratio of arm circumference to cuff width differs from 0.38.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Brasil.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Arcuri
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouch e Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged