J Korean Med Assoc.  2024 Jul;67(7):475-481. 10.5124/jkma.2024.67.7.475.

A novel cuffless blood pressure monitoring device in hypertension care

• Lee HY

• KMID: 2558008
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2024.67.7.475

Abstract

Background
Hypertension management is challenged by the dynamic nature of blood pressure (BP) fluctuations. These fluctuations are influenced by factors such as physical activity, emotional changes, and sleep patterns. Traditional guidelines focus on static measurements taken in clinical settings. However, these readings may not accurately represent an individual’s typical BP levels. This approach can lead to misdiagnoses, such as white coat or masked hypertension, resulting in either unnecessary treatment or missed diagnoses.
Current Concepts
Recent global hypertension guidelines emphasize the importance of home BP monitoring and 24-hour ambulatory BP measurements for more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. However, several barriers exist, such as the high cost of ambulatory BP devices and practical challenges associated with home BP monitoring, which limit their widespread utilization. Despite these challenges, integrating BP measurements into mobile devices offers a promising approach to monitoring BP outside the clinical setting. Various innovative approaches have been developed, including smartwatches utilizing photoplethysmography sensors and machine learning algorithms. However, their accuracy and the need for periodic calibration are areas of concern.
Discussion and Conclusion
Mobile device BP monitoring represents a significant advancement in hypertension management, offering the potential for continuous, convenient, and less intrusive monitoring. Despite these potential benefits, challenges such as device accuracy verification, large-scale data interpretation, and calibration must be addressed. The future of hypertension management will likely rely on these technologies, along with traditional methods, to provide better insight into individual BP profiles. This integration promises to improve hypertension diagnosis, management, and ultimately patient outcomes, although further research and development are necessary to overcome the current limitations.

Keyword

Hypertension; Diagnosis; Blood pressure monitors; Mobile applications; 고혈압; 진단; 혈압측정기; 모바일기기