{Reference Type}: Evaluation Study
{Title}: Automated device that complies with current guidelines for office blood pressure measurement: design and pilot application study of the Microlife WatchBP Office device.
{Author}: Stergiou GS;Lin CW;Lin CM;Chang SL;Protogerou AD;Tzamouranis D;Nasothimiou E;Tan TM;
{Journal}: Blood Press Monit
{Volume}: 13
{Issue}: 4
{Year}: Aug 2008
{Factor}: 1.43
{DOI}: 10.1097/MBP.0b013e3283057a84
{Abstract}: OBJECTIVE: Current guidelines for office blood pressure (BP) measurement recommend mercury devices, both arms measurement in the initial assessment and at least duplicate measurements at follow-up visits. This study presents the design and a pilot application study of an automated device that fulfils American, European, and International guidelines for office BP measurement.
UNASSIGNED: The Microlife WatchBP Office is a professional electronic mercury-free device with three function modes designed for: (a) initial assessment: triplicate automated simultaneous oscillometric both arms measurement at 60-s intervals and when there is a consistent interarm difference more than 20 mmHg systolic and/or more than 10 mmHg diastolic, the arm with the higher BP is indicated. (b) Follow-up assessment: triplicate automated oscillometric single arm measurements at 60-s intervals and their average is displayed. (c) Auscultatory measurement: by an observer using a stethoscope and a digital countdown BP display for patients with arrhythmias and other individuals in whom the oscillometric measurement is not accurate.
UNASSIGNED: The 'initial assessment' mode was applied by three physicians in 63 patients (189 readings). Average interarm systolic BP difference was 0.04+/-5.1 mmHg and diastolic 0.4+/-3.2 mmHg. A value more than 10 mmHg interarm difference in nine systolic BP readings (5%) and three (2%) diastolic. No patient had a consistent interarm difference more than 10 mmHg in all three or two of the three readings.
CONCLUSIONS: The Microlife WatchBP Office professional device fulfils current international requirements for office BP measurement and seems to overcome several limitations of this method when applied in clinical practice.