One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference

Objective Some brachial cuffs for oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement are claimed to cover a wide range of upper-arm circumferences; however, their validation is rarely conducted. Our aim was to compare oscillometric BP measurements obtained with a universal cuff with those obtained with a...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Katrine Bovien Gørlitz, Esben Laugesen, Christian Trolle, Louise Jung Nørgård, Siv Lajlev, Michele Colombo, Mette Bohl, Klavs Würgler Hansen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:Blood Pressure
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/08037051.2024.2338208
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850058682357776384
author Katrine Bovien Gørlitz
Esben Laugesen
Christian Trolle
Louise Jung Nørgård
Siv Lajlev
Michele Colombo
Mette Bohl
Klavs Würgler Hansen
author_facet Katrine Bovien Gørlitz
Esben Laugesen
Christian Trolle
Louise Jung Nørgård
Siv Lajlev
Michele Colombo
Mette Bohl
Klavs Würgler Hansen
author_sort Katrine Bovien Gørlitz
collection DOAJ
description Objective Some brachial cuffs for oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement are claimed to cover a wide range of upper-arm circumferences; however, their validation is rarely conducted. Our aim was to compare oscillometric BP measurements obtained with a universal cuff with those obtained with an appropriately sized cuff.Methods We utilised the Microlife B6 Connect monitor, conducting oscillometric BP measurements in a random sequence with both a universal cuff (recommended for arm circumferences from 22 to 42 cm) and an appropriately sized cuff (medium for circumference 22–32 cm and large for 32–42 cm). We included 91 individuals with an arm circumference of 22–32 cm and 64 individuals with an arm circumference of 32–42 cm.Results For arm circumferences > 32 cm, systolic and diastolic BP measured with the universal cuff was higher than that measured with the large cuff (systolic 6.4 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI]). 3.9–8.8, diastolic 2.4 mmHg, 95%CI, 1.2–3.7, p < 0.001 for both). Overestimation of BP with the universal cuff was statistically significant after correcting for the sequence of measurements. No statistical difference was found between the universal cuff and medium cuff for circumferences in the 22–32 cm range. The bladder size in the universal cuff matched the dimensions of the medium-sized cuff; however, the cuff was larger.Conclusion Overestimation of BP measured with a universal cuff in persons with large arm circumferences is clinically important. It poses the risk of unnecessary initiation or intensification of antihypertensive medication in persons using the universal cuff.
format Article
id doaj-art-3dd694a28ff742a488b1e5b24121d85a
institution DOAJ
issn 0803-7051
1651-1999
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Blood Pressure
spelling doaj-art-3dd694a28ff742a488b1e5b24121d85a2025-08-20T02:51:05ZengTaylor & Francis GroupBlood Pressure0803-70511651-19992024-12-0133110.1080/08037051.2024.2338208One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumferenceKatrine Bovien Gørlitz0Esben Laugesen1Christian Trolle2Louise Jung Nørgård3Siv Lajlev4Michele Colombo5Mette Bohl6Klavs Würgler Hansen7Diagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkDiagnostic Centre, University Research Clinic for Innovative Patient Pathways, Silkeborg Regional Hospital, DenmarkObjective Some brachial cuffs for oscillometric blood pressure (BP) measurement are claimed to cover a wide range of upper-arm circumferences; however, their validation is rarely conducted. Our aim was to compare oscillometric BP measurements obtained with a universal cuff with those obtained with an appropriately sized cuff.Methods We utilised the Microlife B6 Connect monitor, conducting oscillometric BP measurements in a random sequence with both a universal cuff (recommended for arm circumferences from 22 to 42 cm) and an appropriately sized cuff (medium for circumference 22–32 cm and large for 32–42 cm). We included 91 individuals with an arm circumference of 22–32 cm and 64 individuals with an arm circumference of 32–42 cm.Results For arm circumferences > 32 cm, systolic and diastolic BP measured with the universal cuff was higher than that measured with the large cuff (systolic 6.4 mmHg, 95% confidence interval [CI]). 3.9–8.8, diastolic 2.4 mmHg, 95%CI, 1.2–3.7, p < 0.001 for both). Overestimation of BP with the universal cuff was statistically significant after correcting for the sequence of measurements. No statistical difference was found between the universal cuff and medium cuff for circumferences in the 22–32 cm range. The bladder size in the universal cuff matched the dimensions of the medium-sized cuff; however, the cuff was larger.Conclusion Overestimation of BP measured with a universal cuff in persons with large arm circumferences is clinically important. It poses the risk of unnecessary initiation or intensification of antihypertensive medication in persons using the universal cuff.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/08037051.2024.2338208Cuff sizebladder sizeblood pressure measurementoscillometryarm circumference
spellingShingle Katrine Bovien Gørlitz
Esben Laugesen
Christian Trolle
Louise Jung Nørgård
Siv Lajlev
Michele Colombo
Mette Bohl
Klavs Würgler Hansen
One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
Blood Pressure
Cuff size
bladder size
blood pressure measurement
oscillometry
arm circumference
title One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
title_full One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
title_fullStr One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
title_full_unstemmed One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
title_short One size does not fit all: universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
title_sort one size does not fit all universal cuff overestimates oscillometric blood pressure in persons with large arm circumference
topic Cuff size
bladder size
blood pressure measurement
oscillometry
arm circumference
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/08037051.2024.2338208
work_keys_str_mv AT katrineboviengørlitz onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT esbenlaugesen onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT christiantrolle onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT louisejungnørgard onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT sivlajlev onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT michelecolombo onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT mettebohl onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference
AT klavswurglerhansen onesizedoesnotfitalluniversalcuffoverestimatesoscillometricbloodpressureinpersonswithlargearmcircumference