Effect of Elevated Ambient Temperature on Simulator-Derived Oscillometric Blood Pressure Measurement

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Biomedical Engineering
• Clinical Measurement

Background:

• Oscillometric blood pressure (BP) devices are typically rated for use up to 40 °C.
• Many regions experience ambient temperatures exceeding this limit.
• The impact of elevated temperatures on device accuracy is a critical concern for global health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the accuracy of oscillometric BP devices at temperatures above their typical rating.
• To determine if increased ambient temperature affects BP measurement precision.
• To assess the performance of specific oscillometric BP devices under simulated high-temperature conditions.

Main Methods:

• Three Omron and three A&D Medical oscillometric BP devices were tested.
• A custom heat chamber exposed devices to temperatures ranging from 22 °C to 55 °C.
• A noninvasive BP simulator generated measurements across various BP thresholds (80/50 to 180/130 mm Hg).

Main Results:

• No discernible pattern in BP differences was observed with increasing temperature.
• Mean BP differences at elevated temperatures were minimal and clustered around zero.
• Most temperature-induced BP differences were within 5 mm Hg, indicating high consistency.

Conclusions:

• Simulator-based testing indicates that higher ambient temperatures do not significantly alter oscillometric BP measurements.
• Oscillometric BP devices demonstrated comparable accuracy at elevated temperatures versus room temperature.
• Findings suggest potential for reliable use of these devices in warmer climates.