Consistency of Blood Pressure Measurement Methods in Atrial Fibrillation

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Devices
• Hypertension Management

Background:

• Accurate blood pressure (BP) measurement is vital for hypertension management in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients.
• The agreement between oscillometric and auscultatory BP measurement methods in AF patients is not well-established.
• This study investigates BP measurement consistency in AF patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and agreement of oscillometric versus auscultatory BP measurement techniques.
• To identify potential discrepancies in BP readings between the two methods in patients with atrial fibrillation.
• To inform clinical practice regarding BP monitoring in this patient population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 100 patients with atrial fibrillation and sinus rhythm.
• Blood pressure was measured three times using both the auscultatory (Korotkoff sounds) and oscillometric methods.
• Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25, with P-values < 0.05 considered significant.

Main Results:

• A significant difference was observed in systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements between the two methods in AF patients (P=0.003).
• Mean SBP by oscillometric method: 127.29±21.51 mmHg (AF group); by auscultatory method: 131.07±23.72 mmHg (AF group).
• The discrepancy between methods was significant for heart rates of 80 bpm and higher (P=0.017).

Conclusions:

• While a significant correlation exists between oscillometric and auscultatory BP measurements in AF patients, a notable difference in SBP was found.
• The findings highlight potential variability in BP assessment for atrial fibrillation patients.
• Further research may be needed to refine BP measurement protocols for this demographic.