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Published on: April 29, 2013
Ambulatory blood pressure recording in children and adolescents with a semi-automatic recording device
1Department of Paediatrics, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Insights
Semi-automatic blood pressure devices can help monitor children's hypertension. Modifications to cuffs are needed, and careful evaluation ensures accurate readings for pediatric blood pressure self-measurement.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Clinical Hypertension
Background:
- Elevated blood pressure in children and adolescents requires accurate monitoring.
- Semi-automatic devices offer potential for convenient blood pressure self-measurement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the accuracy and usability of a semi-automatic device for pediatric blood pressure monitoring.
- To assess the feasibility of home blood pressure recordings in children and adolescents.
Main Methods:
- 169 hospitalized children and adolescents had blood pressure measured using a modified semi-automatic device.
- Technical modifications were made to pediatric cuffs for device accuracy.
- Home blood pressure recordings were compared with hospital measurements over one week.
Main Results:
- Systolic pressures showed good agreement with conventional methods after modifications.
- Diastolic pressures were underestimated by 2.6-5.9 mm Hg with significant scattering.
- Home systolic measurements were slightly lower than initial hospital readings, with diurnal variations observed.
Conclusions:
- Semi-automatic devices are a simple, inexpensive tool for evaluating pediatric hypertension and guiding treatment.
- Technical modifications and careful device evaluation are crucial for reliable pediatric blood pressure monitoring.
- Home blood pressure monitoring can provide valuable insights into diurnal patterns in children and adolescents.
Abstract:
The blood pressures of 169 hospitalized children and adolescents were determined by a semi-automatic recording device (Sysditon). Several technical modifications of the paediatric cuffs were required before the device yielded satisfactory results. The systolic pressures then agreed very well with conventional sphygmomanometry, whereas the diastolic pressures were underestimated by 2.6 to 5.9 mm Hg and showed considerable scattering. In the second part of the study, 28 children and adolescents performed home recordings during one week. These measurements were compared with the hospital recordings obtained before and after the home recordings. The mean of all systolic self measurements was lower by 3.4 mm Hg than the initial hospital recordings, whilst the final hospital recordings were almost identical. In the majority of children, the lowest home recordings were noted in the morning and at noon, and the highest values in the afternoon and evening. Self measurement with a semi-automatic device is a simple and inexpensive method to evaluate elevated blood pressure and to control anti-hypertensive therapy of children and adolescents. However, technical modifications of the cuffs are necessary, and the devices need careful evaluation before being used in children.
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