PHILADELPHIA—A large proportion of home blood pressure (BP) monitors may be inaccurate compared with mercury sphygmomanometers, Canadian researchers reported at the 2014 Kidney Week meeting.
Dr. Hiremath and his colleagues compared measurements from home BP monitors with validated mercury sphygmomanometers used in doctors’ offices in 210 patients. The researchers found that 30% of home-monitor systolic pressure readings differed by more than 5 mm Hg and 8% differed by more than 10 mm Hg from mercury sphygmomanometer systolic pressure measurements. For diastolic pressure measurements, the corresponding proportions were 32% and 9%, respectively.
“We recommend all patients with home monitors get them validated with the health care providers at least once,” said lead investigator Swapnil Hiremath, MD, MPH, of Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa.
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The 210 patients had a mean age of 67 years, and 60% were men. The mean body mass index was 29 kg/m2.
