What does this research mean for the field?

Using a standard blood pressure cuff in obese patients overestimates the prevalence of high blood pressure twofold compared to large adult or thigh cuffs, while using larger cuffs does not underestimate blood pressure in nonobese patients. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

July 1, 1984

Spurious Hypertension in the Obese Patient

Structured PICO

Does the use of large adult or thigh-size cuffs compared to standard cuffs prevent overestimation of blood pressure in obese patients?

Population

470 patients, including obese (arm circumference ≥35 cm, BMI ≥34, or weight ≥95 kg) and nonobese individuals

Intervention

Blood pressure measurement using large adult and thigh-size cuffs

Comparator

Blood pressure measurement using standard cuff

Outcome

Prevalence of definite high blood pressure (≥160/95 mm Hg) and borderline high blood pressure (≥140/90 to <160/95 mm Hg)surrogate

Routine use of appropriately sized large adult cuffs in obese patients prevents spurious hypertension diagnoses and avoids unnecessary evaluation and treatment.

Abstract

We used standard, large adult, and thigh-size cuffs in random order to take BPs in 470 patients. The prevalences of definite high BP ( HBP), greater than or equal to 160/95 mm Hg) and borderline HBP ( BHBP , greater than or equal to 140/90 less than 160/95 mm Hg) were the same with all three cuffs in patients with an arm circumference less than 35 cm, a body mass index less than 34, and a weight of less than 95 kg. The large adult and thigh cuffs did not underestimate the prevalence of HBP in these nonobese patients. The prevalences of HBP and BHBP were twofold greater with the standard cuff than with the large adult or thigh cuffs in obese patients (arm circumference greater than or equal to 35 cm or body mass index greater than or equal to 34 or weight greater than or equal to 95 kg). Routine use of the large adult cuff will provide accurate BP measurement and avoid unneeded evaluation and treatment.

AI에게 질문

Bookmark