VALIDATION STUDY OF DIGITAL SPHYGMOMANOMETER AS BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICE

ABSTRACT: Blood Pressure is an important sign of life. It may also reflect the presence of certain illnesses. Therefore, accurate measurement of this essential and foremost concern in the selection of an appropriate sphygmomanometer. In the past year, mercury and aneroid sphygmomanometers have been the primary tool in blood pressure measurement. With the advancement in technology, digital type of sphygmomanometer was introduced for people who seek convenience and lack skills to the traditional sphygmomanometer. Mercury containing devices have been linked to numerous environmental and health hazards. Finding an alternative that will closely measure blood pressure as compared to mercury sphygmomanometer has been the subjects of many hospitals and institutions. The study aims to validate digital sphygmomanometer (OMRON SEM-1) as an alternative for mercury containing sphygmomanometer. A blind selection of subjects was performed on 18 years old and above. Two blood pressure readings for each participant will be measured by two investigators using digital and mercury sphygmomanometer. The average blood pressure measurement for each type of sphygmomanometer will be computed and recorded. The specificity, sensitivity, % false positive, % false negative, predictive value of positive, predictive value of negative and correlation of blood pressure readings of digital (OMRON SEM-1) and mercury sphygmomanometer readings will be determined based on the results. Results of the study showed that OMROM SEM - 1 is not a good alternative for mercury sphygmomanometer clinically because it lacks in sensitivity compared to standard may be due to the fundamental calibration problem in measuring diastolic blood pressure. However, it can be used as a home unit monitoring device in patients who are known hypertensive because it has a high specificity especially for systolic blood pressure measurement.

Department of Community & Family Medicine