Automated blood pressure tests more accurate

"Our findings suggest that health-care teams in primary care settings can expect more accurate results from blood pressure devices if they use automated devices in place of the traditional, manual method," says Dr. Martin Myers, principal investigator of the study and cardiologist at our Schulich Heart Centre.

The study evaluated the effect of automated versus manual blood pressure measurement on the management of hypertensive patients.

"Previous studies have shown that blood pressure measurements taken manually in an office are often higher than with automated devices...this is due to something we call the ‘white coat effect' where we find that the very presence of a health-care worker in the room where the reading is being taken seems to elevate a patient's blood pressure," says Myers.

"What our study found was that, even in the doctor's office, the use of a fully automated blood pressure test significantly improved the quality and accuracy of blood pressure readings," he says.

Accurate monitoring of blood pressure in hypertensive patients is important for several reasons. It allows physicians to make a more accurate prediction of the likelihood of a patient experiencing heart disease or a stroke in the future. It also ensures that patients receive the correct amount of medication for their hypertension.

Access the full study here: http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d286.full.html