Key result
Measuring blood pressure through winter clothing yields similar values to bare arm measurement.
Why the study?
While NIBP measurement through one layer of light cloth has been described, the reliability of measurements through two and three layers of autumn/winter clothing was unknown.
Does measuring noninvasive blood pressure through layers of autumn/winter clothing affect measurement reliability compared to a bare arm in healthy volunteers and patients?
RCT (n=151)
Random order
Does measuring noninvasive blood pressure through layers of autumn/winter clothing affect measurement reliability compared to a bare arm in healthy volunteers and patients?
Noninvasive blood pressure can be reliably measured through up to 3 layers of autumn/winter clothing without clinically significant differences compared to bare arm measurement.
May support BP measurement through winter layers in field settings; hypothesis-generating and requires validation in broader patient cohorts.
INTRODUCTION: In recent years a number of publications have appeared describing noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP) measurement with 1 layer of light cloth between the patient's skin and the NIBP cuff. In this study we investigated the reliability of NIBP measurements performed through 2 and 3 layers of autumn/winter clothing in 2 research groups: healthy volunteers and patients. METHODS: Oscillometric NIBP measurements were made in a random order: 1) on the exposed arm; 2) on the arm covered by a standardized cotton and polar fabric test sleeve; and 3) with the arm covered by a cotton-polar fabric and down jacket test sleeve. The time taken for measurement was also recorded. RESULTS: We performed measurement in 101 volunteers and 50 patients and found no clinically or statistically significant differences in NIBP. Mean±SD values in the volunteer group were 1) 130/80±14/8 mm Hg; 2) 130/81±15/8 mm Hg; and 3) 128/81±14/8 mm Hg. In the patient group the values were 1) 140/82±34/15 mm Hg; 2) 140/84±33/15 mm Hg; and 3) 137/84±32/15 mm Hg. Measuring over a sleeved arm extended the time of measurement by an average of 3.5 s in comparison with bare arm measurement. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings confirm that it is possible to perform reliable NIBP measurements over 2 and 3 layers of autumn/winter clothing. Measuring NIBP with a clothed arm does not show clinical or statistically significant differences in comparison with measurements performed on the bare arm.
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Wołoszyn et al. (2019) conducted an RCT in Healthy volunteers and patients (n=151). NIBP measurement through 2 and 3 layers of autumn/winter clothing vs. NIBP measurement on the exposed arm was evaluated on Noninvasive blood pressure (NIBP). Noninvasive blood pressure measurement through 2 or 3 layers of winter clothing yielded similar values to bare arm measurement (e.g., 130/81 and 128/81 vs 130/80 mm Hg in healthy volunteers).
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