VALIDATION OF THE SPACELABS-90207 AMBULATORY BLOOD-PRESSURE MONITOR FOR USE IN PREGNANCY

Objective To determine the accuracy of the SpaceLabs 90207 ambulatory blood pressure monitor in pregnant women. Design Prospective observational study. Setting Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital for Women. Subjects One hundred and twenty-two pregnant women from the antenatal population of Queen Charlotte's Hospital. Methods Evaluation was carried out according to the British Hypertension Society (BHS) Protocol. Results The mean difference between observer and device for systolic blood pressure was 3 (SD 4) mmHg. For diastolic blood pressure the difference was 5 (SD 6) mmHg for Phase IV (muffling of Korotkoff sound), and 4 (SD 4) mmHg for Phase V (disappearance of Korotkoff sound). According to the BHS grading criteria, the device reached a B grading for systolic blood pressure. B grading was also reached for diastolic blood pressure (Phase V) but grade C for diastolic blood pressure (Phase IV). The accuracy criteria stipulated by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) were also met for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion The SpaceLabs 90207, when compared with trained observers, is accurate in determining both systolic and diastolic blood pressure for clinical purposes, as judged by the BHS Protocol in pregnancy.