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blood pressure cuff
Device to measure blood pressure.
Clinical significance:
- appropriate cuff size is determined by measuring arm circumference at the midpoint between the acromion & olecranon [4]
- small cuff: 20-25 cm
- regular cuff: 25.1-32 cm (9-13 inches)
- large cuff: 32.1-40 cm (13-17 inches)
- extra-large cuff: 40.1-55 cm [4]
- effects of inappropriate cuff size:
- small cuff appropriate, regular cuff used: mean systolic BP 4 mm Hg too low
- large cuff appropriate, regular cuff used: mean systolic BP 5 mm Hg too high
- extra-large cuff appropriate, regular cuff used: mean systolic BP 20 mm Hg too hig
- cuff 1 size too large: underestimates systolic BP by ~4 mm Hg
- cuff 2 sizes too large: underestimates systolic BP ~9 mm Hg.
- cuff 1size too small: overestimates systolic BP ~4 mm Hg.
- cuff 2 sizes too small: overestimates systolic BP ~20 mm Hg [4]
Notes:
- automated inflating cuffs with digital monitor easier to use
- blood pressure measurement devices validated for clinical accuracy [2]
- many devices do not meet international standards [3]
Related
blood pressure (BP)
General
device (medical device)
References
- Home Blood Pressure Monitors
Prescriber's Letter 11(2):11 2004
Detail-Document#: 200212
(subscription needed) http://www.prescribersletter.com
- US Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing
https://www.validatebp.org
- Lou N
Non-Validated BP Monitors Are a Global Problem.
Thousands of device models don't meet international standards.
MedPage Today February 15, 2022
https://www.medpagetoday.com/primarycare/preventivecare/97197
- Ishigami J et al.
Effects of cuff size on the accuracy of blood pressure readings:
The Cuff(SZ) randomized crossover trial.
JAMA Intern Med 2023 Aug 7; [e-pub].
PMID: 37548984
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2807853