title: Auscultatory versus oscillometric measurement of blood pressure in octogenarians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Auscultatory measurement using a sphygmomanometer has been the predominant method for clinical estimation of blood pressure, but it is now rapidly being replaced by oscillometric measurement.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare blood pressure by auscultatory and oscillometric measurements in patients ≥ 80 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 patients had blood pressure measured by auscultation with a sphygmomanometer and by an electronic device using the oscillometric method. For each patient the mean of two blood pressures with each method measured within 15 min were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 85.8 years; 55.8% were women. The correlation coefficient for systolic blood pressure was 0.88 and for diastolic 0.79. Differences between auscultatory and oscillometric values were less than 10 mmHg in 70.6% of systolic blood pressures and in 83.2% for diastolic. Arrhythmia and hypertension did not influence the results, and there was no correlation between the magnitude of the differences and the level of blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Agreement between oscillometric and auscultatory measurements of blood pressure in octogenarians was found to be less than required by validation protocols. However, semi-automatic equipment, which is observer-independent, may be used even in the very elderly, particularly if multiple readings are performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Jens-Ulrik
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Rosholm
authors.forename: Sidsel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arnspang
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matzen
authors.forename: Ib A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Jacobsen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001314:Auscultation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009991:Oscillometry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods