A peer-reviewed, published study by the National Center for Health Statistics and supported by the CDC comparing manual and electronic blood pressure monitors demonstrated that medical professionals could replace the mercury sphygmomanometer traditionally used in physician offices with an automated monitor and maintain consistent medical-grade accuracy.
Researchers found the OMRON HEM-907XL matched the accuracy of mercury sphygmomanometers and concluded that making the switch to the automated blood pressure monitor could reduce and eliminate the presence of mercury in blood pressure monitors, and achieve environmental benefits and cost effectiveness for medical practices.
The test group was comprised of 4,477 eligible participants over a one-year period with ages ranging from 18 through 60 and over. Within the test group, blood pressure was measured using two protocols – the auscultation protocol (AP) administered by a physician using a mercury sphygmomanometer and the oscillometric protocol (OP) administered by a health technician using an OMRON HEM-907XL device – in a randomly assigned order.
Between-protocol, mean systolic BP and diastolic BP measurements were compared. Then, the prevalence of stage 1 high blood pressure was determined, and protocols were evaluated.
Results showed that although mean systolic BP and diastolic BP obtained by AP and OP differed, the prevalence of stage 1 high blood pressure did not differ, suggesting that a change in protocol may not affect blood pressure prevalence estimates.
