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Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes for Adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey,
Sandra L Jackson1, Cathleen Gillespie1, Daichi Shimbo2
1Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
Insights
Over half of US adults with hypertension require large or extra-large blood pressure cuffs. This highlights the need for accurate cuff sizing in hypertension management and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Public Health
- Medical Device Sizing
Background:
- Hypertension affects nearly half of US adults, necessitating accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement.
- Appropriate BP cuff sizing is crucial for reliable BP readings and effective hypertension management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of recommended BP cuff sizes among US adults.
- To assess the proportion of US adults with hypertension requiring larger BP cuff sizes (large or extra-large).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of 13,038 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2015-March 2020).
- BP cuff sizes categorized by mid-arm circumference.
- Weighted analyses extrapolated to the US population.
Main Results:
- 51% of US adults with hypertension (116 million) need large or extra-large BP cuffs.
- This need is higher in younger adults (65% aged 18-34) and those with obesity (84%).
- Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist, with non-Hispanic Black (57%) and Hispanic (54%) adults more likely to require larger cuffs.
Conclusions:
- More than half of US adults diagnosed with hypertension require large or extra-large blood pressure cuffs.
- Findings underscore the importance of using correctly sized BP cuffs for accurate hypertension assessment and care.
Background:
Hypertension, defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥130/80 mm Hg or antihypertensive medication use, affects approximately half of US adults, and appropriately sized BP cuffs are important for accurate BP measurement and hypertension management.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study analyzed 13,038 US adults (≥18 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-March 2020 cycles. Recommended BP cuff sizes were categorized based on mid-arm circumference: small adult (≤26 cm), adult (>26 to ≤34 cm), large adult (>34 to ≤44 cm), and extra-large adult (>44 cm). Analyses were weighted and proportions were extrapolated to the US population.
Results:
Among US adults (246 million), recommended cuff sizes were: 6% (16 million) small adult, 51% adult (125 million), 40% large adult (98 million), and 3% extra-large adult (8 million). Among adults with hypertension (116 million), large or extra-large cuffs were needed by over half (51%) overall, including 65% of those aged 18-34 years and 84% of those with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2). By race/ethnicity, the proportion needing a large or extra-large cuff was 57% of non-Hispanic Black adults, 54% of Hispanic adults, 51% of non-Hispanic White adults, and 23% of non-Hispanic Asian adults. Approximately 40% of adults with hypertension in Medicare needed a large or extra-large cuff, compared to 54% for private insurance and 53% for Medicaid.
Conclusions:
Over half of US adults with hypertension need a large or extra-large BP cuff.
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