Korean Circ J.  2024 May;54(5):270-287. 10.4070/kcj.2023.0274.

Replacing Mercury Sphygmomanometers With Mercury-Free Sphygmomanometers for the National Health Survey in Children: Direct Comparisons Applying Two Types of Mercury-Free Sphygmomanometer

• Kim SH
• Kim YM
• Kim SH
• Shin J
• Lee EM

• KMID: 2556524
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2023.0274

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Blood pressure (BP) measurement using an auscultatory sphygmomanometer is recommended for diagnosing hypertension in children. As mercury sphygmomanometers (MSs) are banned owing to environmental concerns, it is crucial to determine the accuracy of mercury-free sphygmomanometers to replace them. We analyzed the accuracy of these devices to guide the National Survey selection.
Methods
BP was measured thrice each with MS, auscultatory device (AD), and oscillometric device (OD) in 104 participants aged 10–18 using the National Survey data. The difference in BP was defined as the difference between MS and other devices. The BP differences, correlations, and influencing factors were analyzed. The frequencies of hypertension were also compared.
Results
Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) differences between MS and AD were 0.88±3.36 mmHg and 0.63±3.95 mmHg, and those between MS and OD were 0.43±5.83 mmHg and 4.57±6.89 mmHg, respectively. The absolute error of <10 mmHg for DBP between MS and OD was 76%. The concordance correlation coefficient between MS and AD was 0.94 for SBP and 0.90 for DBP, and 0.81 and 0.67, respectively for MS and OD. Arm circumference negatively correlated with BP differences except for SBP between the MS and OD. The frequency of hypertension was not different between MS and AD but was underestimated by OD.
Conclusions
AD correlated well with MS, while OD did not, especially for DBP. The superiority of AD over OD suggests AD as a possible alternative for MS in the National Survey.

Keyword

Health surveys; Hypertension; Mercury; Sphygmomanometers; Children

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Distribution of the absolute error. The graphs display the number of patients. Group 1: 10–12 years old; Group 2: 13–18 years old.AD = auscultatory device (Greenlight 300TM); DBP = diastolic blood pressure; MS = mercury sphygmomanometer; OD = oscillometric device (Omron HEM-907); SBP = systolic blood pressure.

• 

  Figure 2 The scatter plots and correlations between MS and AD, as well as between MS and OD for SBP and DBP according to sex.AD = auscultatory device (Greenlight 300TM); CCC = Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient; DBP = diastolic blood pressure; MS = mercury sphygmomanometer; OD = oscillometric device (Omron HEM-907); SBP = systolic blood pressure.

• 

  Figure 3 The Bland-Altman plots between MS and AD, as well as between MS and OD for SBP and DBP according to sex and age groups. Group 1: 10–12 years old; Group 2: 13–18 years old.AD = auscultatory device (Greenlight 300TM); DBP = diastolic blood pressure; MS = mercury sphygmomanometer; OD = oscillometric device (Omron HEM-907); SBP = systolic blood pressure.

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