Validation of the Omron M7 and Microlife 3BTO-A Blood Pressure Measuring Devices in Preeclampsia

Objective. Validation of two automatic blood pressure devices (Microlife 3BTO-A, Microlife, Taipei, Taiwan and Omron M7, OMRON, Kyoto, Japan) in preeclampsia. Methods. Women (n = 34) admitted to the obstetric department of the Academic Medical Center and the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, because of preeclampsia were included. Intermittent auscultatory and oscillometric device measurements were performed to form three measurement pairs for each oscillometric device. Comparison was according to the International Protocol for validation of blood pressure measuring devices that was designed by the Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring of the European Society of Hypertension. Results. Both devices passed the first phase of the protocol. In the second phase, OMRON M7 passed for diastolic blood pressure, but failed for systolic blood pressure, whereas Microlife 3BTO-A failed for both. A difference between device and observers of more than 10 mmHg was observed in over 20% of systolic measurements in both devices and in 5% (OMRON M7) or 16% (Microlife 3BTO-A) of diastolic measurements. Conclusions. Although the use of Omron M7 and Microlife 3BTO-A is acceptable in pregnant women with normal or moderately elevated blood pressure, these devices cannot be recommended in women with severe preeclampsia.