Accuracy—Limiting Factor of Home Blood Pressure Monitors?

In this issue of the American Journal of Hypertension, Padwal et al. report data that is extremely relevant clinically.¹ A significant number of automatic oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitors, owned by Albertans with hypertension, are inaccurate. In particular, in this well-designed study, the difference between systolic or diastolic BP taken simultaneously by the patient's own automated oscillometric home BP device and by a 2-observer auscultatory reference standard BP measurement (mercury sphygmomanometer) was more than 5, 10, and 15 mm Hg in 69%, 29%, and 7% cases, respectively.¹

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