Validation of the Welch Allyn Home blood pressure monitor with professional SureBP algorithm with a special feature of accuracy during involuntary (tremor) patient movement.

BACKGROUND: Current blood pressure (BP) measurement guidelines recommend certain patient requirements, especially keeping still for 5 min. Some patients cannot comply. My colleagues and I have reported accurate performance of the Welch Allyn SureBP algorithm for BP estimates during voluntary patient motion. No validation studies for involuntary patient movement (tremor) BP readings have been reported. This paper reports the validation of the Welch Allyn Home BP monitor, the 1700 Series, which contains that same SureBP algorithm, and the results of tremor testing as well. This device has multiple clinical advantages.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-five patients (49 females) were studied using the ANSI/AAMI/ISO 81060-2, 2013 requirements. Three sizes of cuffs were included. The tremor experiments used a simulator programmed to frequency and amplitude of oscillometric impulses typically seen in patients with diseases causing tremors. This is the first protocol developed for this clinical scenario. The device uses an inflation-based algorithm, reducing discomfort and cycle times.

RESULTS: The mean±SD for the device minus manual readings per ISO Criterion 1 were -2.93±6.64 mmHg for systolic BP and -2.453±5.48 mmHg for diastolic BP. The tremor testing was performed at low, normal, and high BP simulations. The device recorded a BP value for every cycle tested. The errors (device minus manual BP estimates) were quite low.

CONCLUSION: The Welch Allyn Home BP monitor is accurate in the presence of involuntary patient motion (tremor). Clinicians can have a high level of confidence in the use of a self-measurement device, which operates using the same algorithm as contained in the 'professional grade' family of devices.