Comparison between cuff-based and radial tonometry exercise-induced central blood pressure

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Physiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Non-invasive central blood pressure (cBP) during exercise is a valuable prognostic indicator.
• Radial tonometry is validated for exercise cBP but requires operator expertise.
• Cuff-based devices offer operator independence but need validation during exercise.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare exercise-induced central blood pressure estimations between a novel cuff-based device and radial tonometry.
• To assess the agreement of cuff-based cBP measurements with radial tonometry during varying exercise intensities.

Main Methods:

• Twenty healthy young subjects performed a three-workload graded exercise test.
• Central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), diastolic blood pressure (cDBP), pulse pressure (cPP), and augmentation index (AIx) were measured at rest and during exercise.
• Bland-Altman analysis was used to assess agreement between the cuff device and radial tonometry.

Main Results:

• The cuff device successfully measured cBP at rest and during low-intensity exercise.
• Measurements showed agreement between the cuff device and radial tonometry during low-intensity exercise.
• Specific agreement ranges were observed for cSBP, cDBP, cPP, and AIx.

Conclusions:

• A cuff-based device can reliably estimate central blood pressure during low-intensity exercise.
• This device provides an operator-independent method for assessing exercise-induced cBP.
• The findings support the use of cuff-based devices for exercise cardiovascular assessment.