Monitoring devices

GP Corner	Guidelines	Monitoring Devices	Expert Opinions

BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICES

·         Currently there are many blood pressure monitoring devices available.

·         With the trend to move away from the use of mercury devices and the encouragement of home blood pressure monitoring, there is a need to identify which of these devices provide accurate measurements of blood pressure.

·       Hence protocols for the validation of blood pressure monitoring devices have been developed.

·        This site provides information on blood pressure devices which have been accredited by various societies based upon these validation protocols.    

2010: Validation of new blood pressure measurement devices since 2002 

European Society of Hypertension international protocol for the validation of blood pressure monitors: a critical review of its application and rationale for revision.

Stergiou et al. Blood Pressure Monitoring 2010;15:39-48.

This paper reviews all of the published evidence for the validation of blood pressure measurement devices from 2002 until 2008. This information should be used in conjunction with that provided below (see 2007).   

2008: European Society of Hypertension guidelines for blood pressure monitoring at home. 

J Hypertens 2008;26:1505-1530. 

These guidelines which are an update on previous recommendations published in 2000, provide recommendations on the use of home blood pressure monitoring devices in clinical practice and in research. The methodology of home blood pressure monitoring, its diagnostic and therapeutic thresholds are discussed. These guidelines also provide recommendations on the appropriate choice of cuff sizes for adults, adolescents and children. In addition, they provide useful information regarding the selection and validation of various home blood pressure monitoring devices.

2008 - 2010: Validated Blood Pressure Monitors 

List of internationally recognised devices.

Available at http://bhsoc.org/Blood_pressure_list.stm

This site provides a comprehensive list of automated, aneroid, ambulatory and manual blood pressure devices, including validated wrist devices. Lists of those devices appropriate for use in children and special cases are also given. These blood pressure measuring devices have been tested according to the British Hypertension Society (BHS) protocol revised in 1993 and/or the International Protocol and/or the AAMI (American Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation) Protocol. In order to be validated a device must achieve a minimum B grade for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements according to the revised BHS protocol, or must pass the accepted criteria for the International Protocol or the AAMI protocol.

2007: Accredited upper arm self-BP measuring devices 

List of internationally recognised devices.

Available at http://www.dableducational.org/  (click on " validation of devices")

This site provides a list of validated, self-monitoring blood pressure (BP) devices. This is part of our ongoing programme to ensure the use of valid BP devices. We have provided the names of reputable dealers who have committed to service, warranty and other quality issues. All of those that come recommended have been validated internationally. If the device is not on this list or listed in a review paper published in 2010 (see above), then the SAHS does not recommend the use of the device as it has not been proven to work accurately and there may be inadequate technical support to ensure servicing. The list may not include all devices available in Southern Africa. We recommend that before purchasing a device , the supplier should provide evidence that it has been validated.

2005: Affordable technology: BP measuring devices low resource settings. 

Affordable Technology: BP Measuring Devices For Low Resource Settings.

Available at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2005/9241592648.pdf

Document by the World Health Organisation outlining the validity and usefulness of blood pressure measurement devices in low resource settings.

2001: Blood pressure measuring devices: recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension. 

O’Brien et al BMJ 2001;322:531-536.

This document prepared by the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring lists clinic, home and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices which have been validated.