'Striking' Differences in BP When Wrong Cuff Size Is Used!
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Strong new evidence on the need to use an appropriately sized cuff in blood pressure (BP) measurement has come from the cross-sectional randomized trial Cuff(SZ). The study found that in people in whom a small adult cuff was appropriate, systolic BP readings were on average 3.6 mm Hg lower when a regular adult size cuff was used. However, systolic readings were on average 4.8 mm Hg higher when a regular cuff was used in people who required a large adult cuff and 19.5 mm Hg higher in those needing an extra-large cuff based on their mid-arm circumference.
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@tathoi people who required an extra-large cuff and were measured with a regular cuff had an average BP of 144/86.7 mm Hg, which is in the stage 2 hypertension range. But when the correct size cuff was used, the average BP was 124.5/79.3 mm Hg, or in the prehypertensive range. Overall, the overestimation of BP due to using too small a cuff misclassified 39% of people as being hypertensive, while the underestimation of BP due to using a cuff that was too large missed 22% of people with hypertension.