The Effect of Cuff Size on Blood Pressure Measurement in Adults

We measured blood pressure differences by cuff size in 181 adults aged 25 to 74 years, allocated to a random sequence that involved the measurement of blood pressure using a small cuff, a large cuff, and an appropriate cuff as determined by standardized arm circumference measurement. Systolic and di...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology (Cambridge, Mass.) Mass.), 1991-05, Vol.2 (3), p.214-217
Main Authors: Sprafka, J. Michael, Strickland, Daniel, Gómez-Marín, Orlando, Prineas, Ronald J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Arm circumference
Blood pressure
Blood Pressure - physiology
Blood Pressure Determination - instrumentation
Brief Reports
Circumferences
Diastolic blood pressure
Epidemiology
Equipment Design
Female
Humans
Hypertension
Male
Men
Middle Aged
Pediatrics
Public health
Random Allocation
Reproducibility of Results
Sphygmomanometers
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Summary:We measured blood pressure differences by cuff size in 181 adults aged 25 to 74 years, allocated to a random sequence that involved the measurement of blood pressure using a small cuff, a large cuff, and an appropriate cuff as determined by standardized arm circumference measurement. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were underestimated by 3–5 mm Hg in men and 1–3 mm Hg in women when the cuff was one size larger than appropriate. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were overestimated by 2–6 mm Hg in men and 3–4 mm Hg in women when the cuff was one size smaller than appropriate. In addition, 30–40% of subjects were "misclassified" when blood pressure cutpoints were used to define hypertension.
ISSN:1044-3983
1531-5487
DOI:10.1097/00001648-199105000-00010