Comparison of Systolic Blood Pressure Measurements by Auscultation and Visual Manometer Needle Jump

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate differences in systolic blood pressure measurements as obtained through auscultation and observation of the visual jump on the manometer. METHODS: Men (n = 21; 26.9 ± 7.4 yrs) and women (n = 22; 29.3 ± 13.9 yrs) volunteered to have resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) assessments. During the same cardiac inflation-deflation cycle of traditional sphygmomanometry, the initial visual jump of the manometer needle and first Korotkoff sound heard were recorded. Duplicate assessments were made in each arm with 30 sec between intra-arm trials. RESULTS: Paired t-test results indicated there were no within-method differences between arms for visual jump (R: 132.1 ± 11.3; L: 131.8 ± 10.5 mmHg) or auscultation (R: 116.8 ± 9.0; L: 113.5 ± 8.8 mmHg). There were methodological differences within arm with visual jump being the higher of the two (right: t(42) = −12.69; left: t(42) = −11.37; p < .001). CONCLUSION: If visual jump determination of SBP cannot be avoided, re-assessment using a more traditional method (i.e. auscultation) is recommended.