Comparison of Mercury, Aneroid and Digital Sphygmomanometer in Measuring Blood Pressure

Comparison of Mercury, Aneroid and Digital Sphygmomanometer in Community Setting

Abstract

Introduction: The mercury sphygmomanometer has been the gold standard for blood pressure measurement, but it is not practical to be used in community setting. Aneroid and digital sphygmomanometers portability are higher compared to mercury device, but the reliability are still in doubt. The purpose of this study is to compare blood pressure measurment by mercury, aneroid and digital sphygmomanometer.

Methods: The study was a cross sectional study conducted in April - October 2014 in Bandung. A total subject of 108 people from minimal sample size of 66 is obtained through non probability sampling technique. Blood pressure was measured on dominant arm at seated position, the measurement was conducted by using mercury, aneroid and digital sphygmomanometer, twice for each device. Blood pressure measurement was conducted by following protocol from 'European Society of Hypertension International Protocol revision 2010 for the validation of blood pressure measuring devices in adults'. The data was analyzed by Paired Sample T-Test for comparing blood pressure measured by mercury, aneroid and digital sphygmomanometer with significance p value < 0.05.

Results: Among 108 pairs of data, average systolic measurement using digital (124.57 mmHg) and aneroid (124.31) is similar to mercury (125.01), there was no significant difference of average blood pressure measurement between digital and mercury sphygmomanometer (p = 0.71), between digital and aneroid sphygmomanometer (p = 0.46) and between aneroid and mercury sphygmomanometer (p = 0.71)

Conclusion: Digital and aneroid sphygmomanometer can be use to replace mercury sphygmomanometer in a community setting.

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