title: Similarity between blood pressure values assessed by auscultatory method with mercury sphygmomanometer and automated oscillometric digital device.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the biggest challenges in the management of hypertension is adequate blood pressure (BP) control. To achieve this goal, home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) with automated devices has been encouraged. However, part of the medical community still disputes its validity, believing that HBPM may lead to incorrect readings.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the correspondence between the simultaneous measurements of BP with the auscultatory method and an oscillometric digital method, commonly used in HBPM.
  
  
  METHODS
  BP was determined simultaneously in 423 individuals (normotensive and hypertensive) with a validated automated digital device (ONROM 705IT) and with the auscultatory method with a mercury sphygmomanometer. Both devices were connected through a Y-shaped connection to a cuff whose size was adjusted to the arm circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The values represent mean ± SD (minimum-maximum values): age 40.8 ± 16.3 years (18-92), arm circumference 28.2 ± 3.7 cm (19-42), systolic BP (SBP) auscultatory 127.6 ± 22.8 mmHg (69-223), SBP automated 129.5 ± 23.0 mmHg (56-226), diastolic BP (DBP) auscultatory 79.5 ± 12.6 mmHg (49-135) DBP automated 79.0 ± 12.6 mmHg (48-123). The mean difference in SBP between the two methods was 1.9 mmHg (-15 to +19) and 0.5 mmHg for DBP (-19 to +13). The Bland-Altman analysis showed clinically acceptable agreement between the methods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BP measured with the automated method closely mirrors that determined with the conventional auscultatory method and should be used to improve the diagnosis and control of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Unidade de Hipertensão e Diabetes, Hospital Santa Lucinda, Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo, SP.
authors.forename: Maria Valéria
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.forename: Glauco Eduardo
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Saura
authors.forename: Henri Augusto
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Korkes
authors.forename: Karen Moreno
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Nelson Domingues
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Madeira Neto
authors.forename: Ronaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dávila
authors.forename: Cibele Isaac Saad
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Fernando Antonio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Almeida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019722:Sphygmomanometers; D055815:Young Adult