[Evaluation of the characteristics and performance of an automatic sphygmomanometer (Omega 1400)]

24 hour pressure monitoring is a newly developing technique potentially yielding important informations in hypertensive patients. Numerous automated devices are available whose performance characteristics are poorly documented. To evaluate an automated sphygmomanometer commonly used in our Division (Omega 1400, Invivo Research Laboratories), we performed a series of measurements, simultaneously recording blood pressure in the opposite arm with a common sphygmomanometer. Each measure was then repeated reversing the position of the two devices (manual and automated), thus abolishing possible differences between the two arms. We observed a mean underestimation of 1.90 mmHg of systolic pressure and of 4.82 mmHg of diastolic blood pressure by the automated device. We conclude that the device by us evaluated is not advisable in the basal blood pressure evaluation, but useful in monitoring inpatients.