Baseline check of blood pressure readings of an automated device in severe pre-eclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnancy

Objective: The baseline blood pressure (BP) readings of an automated device that have not been validated in pregnancy require comparison with those from a reference standard before the device is utilized in pregnancy. We aimed to perform a baseline check of BP readings of an automated device, Mindray iMEC12 patient monitor, in severe pre-eclampsia and healthy pregnancy. Study design: The BP of 50 severe pre-eclamptic and 90 normotensive pregnancies were measured using Mindray iMEC12 patient monitor (test device) and Welch Allyn 767 aneroid sphygmomanometer (reference device). A pass in either the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or British Hypertension Society (BHS) rating was considered acceptable. The cumulative percentage of absolute BP difference between the test and reference devices within 5, 10 and 15 mmHg were calculated to rate the test device according to the BHS grades (A, B, C or D). The ISO recommends that an accurate device should achieve a mean BP difference +/- SD of <= 5 +/- 8 mmHg. Results: The mean BP difference between the test and reference devices were 1.27 +/- 7.51 mmHg and 0.05 +/- 6.09 mmHg for systolic and diastolic BPs respectively. The test device achieved the BHS grades B and A rating in systolic and diastolic BPs respectively. In each of the 2 groups (pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnancies), the test device also satisfied the set pass criteria. Conclusions: In settings that do not have a validated BP device, Mindray iMEC12 patient monitor may be used for BP measurement in normotensive and severe pre-eclamptic pregnancies.