title: Recommendations for blood pressure measuring devices for office/clinic use in low resource settings.
abstract: This paper, which summarizes the conclusions of a WHO Expert meeting, is aimed at proposing indications to develop technical specifications for an accurate and affordable blood pressure measuring device for office/clinic use in low resource settings. Blood pressure measuring devices to be used in low resource settings should be accurate, affordable, and easily available worldwide. Given the serious inherent inaccuracy of the auscultatory technique, validated and affordable electronic devices, that have the option to select manual readings, seem to be a suitable solution for low resource settings. The agreement on the technical specifications for automated blood pressure measuring devices for office/clinic use in low resource settings included the following features: high accuracy, adoption of electronic transducers and solar batteries for power supply, standard rates of cuff inflation and deflation, adequate cuff size, digital display powered by solar batteries, facilities for adequate calibration, environmental requirements, no need of memory function, resistance to shock and temperature changes, and low cost. Availability of a device with these features should be accompanied by adequate training of health care personnel, who should guarantee implementation of the procedures recommended in recent European and American Guidelines for accurate blood pressure measurement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Prevention and Applied Biotechnology, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan and Cardiology II, San Luca Hospital, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. gianfranco.parati@unimib.it
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Parati
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mendis
authors.forename: Dele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Abegunde
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asmar
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mieke
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Bakuti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shengelia
authors.forename: Gijs
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Steenvoorden
authors.forename: Gert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Montfrans
authors.forename: Eoin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000191:economics* / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006295:Health Resources; D006801:Humans; D009819:Office Visits; D012015:Reference Standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012993:Solar Energy; D014159:Transducers