MONDAY, March 4, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Oscillometric devices allow accurate office blood pressure (BP) measurement while reducing human errors associated with the auscultatory approach, according to a scientific statement published online March 4 in Hypertension.
Paul Muntner, Ph.D., from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and colleagues provide an updated American Heart Association scientific statement on BP measurement.
The authors note that many oscillometric devices have been validated that allow accurate BP measurement in the office setting while reducing human errors associated with the auscultatory approach. Compared with auscultation, fully automated oscillometric devices capable of taking multiple readings without the presence of an observer may provide a more accurate BP measurement. Studies have revealed substantial differences between BP measured outside an office setting and BP measured in the office. For out-of-office BP assessment, ambulatory BP monitoring is considered the reference standard; when ambulatory BP monitoring is not available or tolerated, home BP monitoring is an alternative. It is unclear whether adults with white-coat hypertension have increased cardiovascular disease risk compared with those with sustained normotension, while increased risk is seen for those with masked hypertension. For measuring BP in children and adolescents, both oscillometric and auscultatory methods are considered acceptable.
"We cannot overstate the importance of using only validated devices, routinely calibrating and maintaining BP measurement devices, and having BP measured by health care providers who have been properly trained and retrained," the authors write.
One author disclosed financial ties to the biotechnology industry.
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