Everything You Need To Know About Wrist Blood Pressure Monitors For Seniors

17 Oct.,2022

 

which is better arm cuff or wrist blood pressure monitor

Many studies and medical experts suggest wrist blood pressure monitors aren’t accurate. In fact, the American Heart Association says wrist and finger monitors aren’t recommended because they yield less reliable readings.

In a 2020 study in Hypertension, researchers from seven universities and the World Hypertension League considered more than 970 home blood pressure devices sold by nearly 60 online retailers. They found 95% hadn’t been validated for accuracy . Validated monitors have been found to give “accurate and reliable readings compared to clinical standards,” says Andrew Feda, M.D., a geriatrician at One Medical in New York City. The validation process usually entails comparing the monitor’s reading to readings obtained by the traditional method used by a doctor in an office (often an inflatable cuff and stethoscope).

“The American Medical Association and the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago developed a process to validate BP [blood pressure] devices for clinical accuracy,” says Dr. Feda. Of the 162 wrist cuff-specific devices, only 8% had been validated, and none of the 530 wristband-style wearables have been validated.

“Wrist blood pressure monitors are, unfortunately, notoriously inaccurate and are usually not recommended unless the patient is unable to use an arm blood pressure cuff,” says Dr. Feda. He adds if the patient wants to use a wrist monitor, they should bring it to their doctor’s office to compare it with a professional machine to assess its accuracy.

Common reasons for inaccuracies in wrist blood pressure monitor readings include:

  • Irregular heart rhythm: These monitors are not as accurate for people with irregular heart rhythms, because they’re designed to pick up a regular pattern, and irregular patterns can easily trick them, says Dr. Avetian. If you have an irregular heart rhythm, you might be better off with an upper arm cuff. The blood vessels in the wrist are narrower, and an irregular rhythm accentuates the smaller passageway, making it harder to get an accurate reading.
  • Anatomy of the wrist: Wrist blood pressure monitors are less accurate than upper arm cuffs simply because of wrists’ structures. “The wrist arteries are more narrow and not as deep under your skin as those of the upper arm,” says Dr. Kroll.
  • Human error: Wrist blood pressure monitors are finicky. The monitor has to be in exactly the right position and, as Dr. Avetian notes, any motion can throw the reading off.

In general, while at-home blood pressure monitors are convenient, they can’t replace a trip to the doctor. “The most accurate reading is done in a physician’s office with a traditional cuff on the upper arm and the stethoscope in the elbow area,” says Dr. Avetian.