Comparison of manual versus automated blood pressure measurement in intensive care unit, coronary care unit, and emergency room

BACKGROUND: Accuracy of blood pressure (BP) measurement in clinical settings is one of the most concerns despite of promotion in techniques for the measurement of BP. Our aim was to compare automated versus manual BP measurement in intensive care unit (ICU), coronary care unit (CCU), and emergency room patients. METHODS: Totally, ۱۱۷ patients in ICU, CCU, and emergency department were registered in the study. Demographic information was recorded. The cardioset heart monitoring device was used for measuring BP and mercury sphygmomanometer with appropriate cuffs was used for manual method. Then, the mean BP of two methods was compared based on different age, sex, weight, and disease findings. RESULTS: The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) was ۱۲۴.۵۲۶ mmHg, with minimum and maximum of ۱۲۳.۱۱۱ and ۱۲۵.۹۴۰ mmHg, respectively (Cronbach’s alpha = ۰.۸۹۳); furthermore, mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was ۷۳.۴۹۶ mmHg, with minimum and maximum of ۷۲.۷۱۸ and ۷۴.۲۴۷ mmHg, respectively (Cronbach’s alpha = ۰.۸۵۲). SBP was significantly different between the two methods, and especially in patients below ۶۰ years, hospitalized in ICU ward, overweight, mid-upper arm circumference below ۲۷ cm, and with neurosurgery problems, it was higher by manual method, too (P < ۰.۰۵۰). Moreover, DBP was more in a manual method in patients with female sex, below ۶۰ years, hospitalized in ICU ward and with neurosurgery problems (P < ۰.۰۵۰). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that manual method in measurement of BP frequently shows higher BP, especially in patients admitted to hospitals-affecting up to ۱۵ mmHg higher, and this discrepancy is more in critical situations.