The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 275 No 7363 p218
20 August 2005

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BP monitoring audit shows inaccuracy of readings

Almost a fifth of sphygmomanometers give inaccurate readings, an audit of devices in use in south London has found (Blood Pressure Monitoring 2005;10:181).

On-site measurements of the pressure accuracy of 279 sphygmomanometers in 45 general practices in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham found that 17.9 per cent of devices gave errors exceeding the European Standard specification threshold of ±3mmHg.

Among aneroid devices, in which a gauge replaces the mercury manometer, 53.2 per cent of devices were found to be reading in error by more than ±3mmHg, compared with 7.8 per cent of mercury and automated devices combined.

The authors estimate that a systematic over-estimation of this level would lead to a 24 per cent increase in the number of patients classified as hypertensive.