The journal of clinical hypertension
-
The characteristics of the optimal cuff for blood pressure (BP) measurement are still the subject of much debate. The choice of the appropriate cuff in obese individuals depends not only on the arm circumference but also on its shape because a conically shaped arm makes it difficult to fit the cuff to the arm. When a large-size cylindrical cuff is used in conical arms, an overestimation of the true BP is likely to occur with BP discrepancies that may be as large as 10 mm Hg. ⋯ Using these cuffs, accurate oscillometric BP measurements can be obtained over a wide range of arm circumferences using a unique software algorithm. These wide-range cuffs coupled to oscillometric devices may represent a good option for BP measurement in very obese subjects. However, their reliability should be confirmed in larger populations and different settings.