Annals of epidemiology
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There is a need for caution in measuring blood pressure in the obese. Problems related to adequate cuff-bladder size and shape are apparent from a review of the literature. Imperfections in experiments comparing intra-arterial/indirect blood pressure measurements remain. ⋯ The most important adjustment for measuring blood pressure in the obese derives from choosing the correct cuff width-arm circumference (CW/AC) ratio. Such action reduces the intersubject variability of blood pressure measurement in clinical and epidemiologic studies. Past studies probably overestimated blood pressure level in the obese and so underestimated the risk of elevated blood pressure in the obese.