Intrasession Reliability Analysis for Oscillometric Blood Pressure Method Using a Digital Blood Pressure Monitor in Peruvian Population

Abstract

Blood Pressure (BP) is one of the most used measured clinical parameters in health promotion and intervention. BP measures can vary due to different parameters, so we aim to study the intrasession test–retest reliability for an oscillometric method using a digital tensiometer in the Peruvian population aged over 15 with and without a diagnosis of hypertension (HT). Data were taken from the Demographic and Family Health Survey conducted in Peru in 2019. Technicians had to follow a standardized protocol on the conditions to carry out a valid and reliable measurement. Relative reliability was excellent in most cases (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9); absolute reliability was excellent (standard error of measurement < 5%) and smallest real difference < 10% in most cases. The Bland–Altman plot showed a systematic error of 2.36 for systolic BP in men and 2.16 in women, and 0.823 for diastolic BP in men and 0.71 for diastolic BP in women. Results suggest that the oscillometric method with a digital blood pressure monitor was reliable in absolute and relative terms in this population, so it could be used as a reliable control test to measure changes after an intervention.

Keywords

• intraclass correlation coefficient
• standard error of measurement
• smallest real difference
• blood pressure
• electronic device
• health promotion