Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement Devices-International Perspectives on Accuracy and Clinical Use: A Narrative...

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular medicine
• Biomedical engineering
• Health technology assessment

Background:

• Hypertension is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Accurate blood pressure measurement is crucial for diagnosing and managing hypertension.
• Traditional cuff-based BP measurement presents challenges for patient adherence and usability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential benefits and challenges of emerging cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement devices.
• To highlight the critical need for validation of cuffless BP technologies before widespread clinical adoption.
• To inform clinicians and patients about the current recommendations for BP monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on cuffless BP measurement technologies.
• Analysis of the advantages and limitations of cuffless versus conventional BP devices.
• Discussion of key validation issues including accuracy, equity, privacy, and clinical integration.

Main Results:

• Cuffless BP devices offer potential solutions to the inconvenience and discomfort associated with traditional cuff devices.
• Significant validation challenges remain, including ensuring accuracy to prevent undertreatment or overtreatment.
• Equitable access, data privacy, and clinical deployment strategies are critical considerations for cuffless BP technology.

Conclusions:

• Clinicians and patients should rely on validated cuff-based BP devices for accurate hypertension management.
• Further rigorous testing and validation are essential before cuffless BP measurement devices can be recommended for clinical practice.
• Addressing accuracy, equity, and privacy concerns is paramount for the future of cuffless BP monitoring.