Clinical validation of an automatic device measuring blood pressure in the fingers.
BACKGROUND
To assess the agreement between a new automatic device (FS-20D) using a cuff-oscillometric method to measure arterial blood pressure (BP) in the fingers and a standard mercury sphygmomanometer.


METHODS
The blood pressure measurements were taken in a sequential order, in a sample of both normotensive subjects (n. 57) and slight to moderate hypertensive patients (n. 28) without vascular complications.


RESULTS
The mean sphygmomanometer-monitor difference was 0.52 +/- 4.57 mmHg for systolic and 0.25 +/- 4.41 mmHg for diastolic values; the agreement limits were: SBP -8.6 divided by 9.6 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.5 divided by 1.5; DBP: -8.6 divided by 9.1 mmHg, 95% CI: -0.7 divided by 1.2. The grade of agreement between the monitor and the sphygmomanometer was "A" (British Hypertension Society) for both systolic and diastolic values (difference of readings < 5 mmHg: 82%; < 10 mmHg: 97% for systolic blood pressure, 98% of diastolic blood pressure).


CONCLUSIONS
The monitor was proved to be reliable with a good level of precision and accuracy. The FS-20D monitor may be used in self-monitoring of blood pressure of patients with slight to moderate hypertension.
Arosio
E
E
Department of Vascular Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Verona. Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy.
Zannoni
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D015924:Blood Pressure Monitors; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019722:Sphygmomanometers