The Health and Life device (HL888HA): accuracy assessment in an adult population according to the British Hypertension Society protocol.
OBJECTIVE
Over the last two decades, concerns over mercury toxicity have given rise to the continuous release of new and improved automated blood pressure measurement devices as a replacement for the mercury sphygmomanometer. Out-of-office blood pressure monitoring has been shown to have various advantages, including a reduced white-coat effect and observer error, as well as better prediction of cardiovascular risk/complications. We assessed the accuracy of the Health and Life device (HL888HA) (Health and Life Co. Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan) in an adult population according to the British Hypertension Society protocol.


METHODS
Local ethics committee approval was obtained and participants were recruited from a large teaching hospital. Nine blood pressure measurements were taken from each participant, alternating between a mercury sphygmomanometer and the test device. Data from 85 participants who fulfilled the British Hypertension Society criteria were analysed according to the protocol guidelines.


RESULTS
The device achieved the highest possible grade (A/A) according to the British Hypertension Society protocol. The mean difference and SD of 0.5 (7.3) mmHg for systolic and -2.1 (7.8) mmHg for diastolic pressure, which complies with the standard of the American Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.


CONCLUSIONS
The Health and Life device (HL888HA) can be recommended for use in an adult population according to the criteria of the British Hypertension Society protocol.
de Greeff
Annemarie
A
Maternal and Fetal Research Unit, King's College London School of Medicine, St. Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, London, UK.
Shennan
Andrew H
AH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012955:Societies, Medical; D019722:Sphygmomanometers; D006113:United Kingdom