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Prevalence and accuracy of home sphygmomanometers in an urban population
L P Hahn1, A R Folsom, J M Sprafka
1Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis 55455.
American Journal of Public Health
|November 1, 1987
Abstract:
The prevalence of ownership (7.5 per cent) and the accuracy of home sphygmomanometers were determined in a population-based survey in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Sixty-four per cent of home sphygmomanometers were accurate within +/- 2 mm Hg of a calibrating sphygmomanometer; another 26 per cent were within +/- 3-6 mm Hg. These results suggest that although many home sphygmomanometers are accurate, some are very inaccurate. Health care providers should advise regular calibration when home sphygmomanometers are used for therapeutic self-management of hypertension.