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Published on: December 10, 2014
Development of an accurate oscillometric blood pressure device for low resource settings
Annemarie de Greeff1, Hannah Nathan, Nina Stafford
1Maternal and Fetal Research Unit, Division of Reproduction and Endocrinology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Insights
A new, low-cost blood pressure monitor was developed for low-resource settings. This accurate device meets World Health Organisation guidelines for use by untrained staff.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Devices
- Public Health
Background:
- Accurate blood pressure measurement is crucial for cardiovascular health management.
- Existing devices may be unsuitable for low-resource settings or untrained users.
- World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines emphasize the need for accessible and reliable medical tools.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an accurate blood pressure measurement device for low-resource environments.
- To ensure the device meets WHO guidelines for usability by untrained personnel.
- To assess the device's performance against established international protocols.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-nine adult participants were recruited for device validation.
- The International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension was followed.
- Sequential same-arm measurements were taken, alternating between the test device and mercury sphygmomanometry.
Main Results:
- Initial device testing required modifications to the deflation rate and algorithm.
- Post-modification, the device met International Protocol criteria.
- Achieved acceptable mean differences for systolic and diastolic pressures: -0.7 (4.7) mmHg and -2.0 (4.6) mmHg (oscillometric), -1.9 (3.8) mmHg and -0.9 (3.3) mmHg (auscultatory).
Conclusions:
- The Microlife 3AS1-2 is a semi-automated, low-cost upper arm blood pressure monitor.
- The device was successfully developed for accurate measurement in adults, meeting international standards.
- Its accuracy and user-friendly design make it valuable for clinical practice in low-resource settings and for untrained staff.
Objective:
To assess and develop an accurate blood pressure measurement device for use in low resource settings and by untrained staff, according to the World Health Organisation guidelines.
Methods:
Ninety-nine adults were recruited to validate the device according to the International Protocol of the European Society of Hypertension. All participants provided written informed consent. Patients with an arrhythmia or unclear Korotkoff sounds were excluded. Nine sequential same-arm measurements were taken from each participant alternating between the test device and mercury sphygmomanometry. Differences between the test device and observers were evaluated according to the criteria of the International Protocol and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
Results:
The device failed the first assessment of the oscillometric function and required modification to both the deflation rate and the algorithm to fulfil the International Protocol criteria. It then achieved an acceptable mean difference of -0.7 (4.7) mmHg for systolic and -2.0 (4.6) mmHg for diastolic pressure (oscillometric function) and -1.9 (3.8) mmHg and -0.9 (3.3) mmHg for systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively (auscultatory function).
Conclusion:
The Microlife 3AS1-2 is a semi-automated upper arm device with features consistent with low resource requirements. We successfully developed this device for accurate blood pressure measurement in adults according to the International Protocol, through adjustment of the deflation rate and algorithm. The accuracy and user-friendly design of this low-cost device makes it a highly valuable monitor in clinical practice, particularly in low resource settings and for use by untrained staff.
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Prepare for the Procedure: