Validation of home blood pressure-monitoring devices, Omron HEM-1020 and Omron i-Q132 (HEM-1010-E), according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol.

OBJECTIVE

Allowing patients to measure their blood pressure (BP) at home is recognized as being of clinical value. However, it is not known whether BP measurement is usually taken correctly outside of a clinical setting. Automated proper wrapping of the cuff and correction of wrong posture will help in taking BP measurement properly. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the Omron HEM-1020 and the Omron i-Q132 devices, which are equipped with those functions.

METHODS

A team of three trained doctors validated the performance of these devices by comparing data obtained from both devices with those from a standard mercury sphygmomanometer. Both devices passed the validation requirements of the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol. The magnitude of the difference in BP readings between the tested device and the standard mercury sphygmomanometer was within the range of ± 3 mmHg, which is allowed by the European Society of Hypertension guidelines.

CONCLUSION

Both the Omron HEM-1020 and the Omron i-Q132 devices were found to be useful for measuring BP at home because their performance fulfilled the requirement of the guidelines.