A Comparative Study of Blood Pressure According to Cuff Size and Measurement Site

Song, Mi Ryeong; Kim, Eun Kyung

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify differences in blood pressure according to cuff size and measurement sites of the participants. METHOD: The participants consisted of 50 women and 50 men whose upper arm circumference was 26~30cm. They had no chronic illness and gave consent to participate. Blood pressure of the wrist was measured in the sitting position, the upper arm with a standard cuff, large and small cuffs were used for measurement in supine position and the thigh in prone position. The data were analyzed with paired t-test using SPSS 12.0 program. RESULT: The data for the upper arm showed a difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure depending on the site of measurement. There was a significant difference between measurements with a standard cuff and measurements with large and small cuffs. The systolic blood pressure of the wrist and the thigh were significantly lower than that of the upper arm.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that the selection of an appropriate cuff is an essential element in ensuring accuracy when measuring blood pressure and differences in systolic blood pressure for the upper arm, wrist and thigh indicate the need to record the measuring site when measuring blood pressure.