Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes for Adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2020

BACKGROUND Hypertension, defined as blood pressure (BP) >= 130/80 mm Hg or antihypertensive medication use, affects approximately half of US adults, and appropriately sized BP cuffs are important for accurate BP measurement and hypertension management. METHODS This cross-sectional study analyzed 13,038 US adults (>= 18 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-March 2020 cycles. Recommended BP cuff sizes were categorized based on mid-arm circumference: small adult (<= 26 cm), adult (>26 to <= 34 cm), large adult (>34 to <= 44 cm), and extra-large adult (>44 cm). Analyses were weighted and proportions were extrapolated to the US population. RESULTS Among US adults (246 million), recommended cuff sizes were: 6% (16 million) small adult, 51% adult (125 million), 40% large adult (98 million), and 3% extra-large adult (8 million). Among adults with hypertension (116 million), large or extra-large cuffs were needed by over half (51%) overall, including 65% of those aged 18-34 years and 84% of those with obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m(2)). By race/ethnicity, the proportion needing a large or extra-large cuff was 57% of non-Hispanic Black adults, 54% of Hispanic adults, 51% of non-Hispanic White adults, and 23% of non-Hispanic Asian adults. Approximately 40% of adults with hypertension in Medicare needed a large or extra-large cuff, compared to 54% for private insurance and 53% for Medicaid. CONCLUSIONS Over half of US adults with hypertension need a large or extra-large BP cuff.