Comparison of two generalized transfer functions for measuring central systolic blood pressure by an oscillometric blood pressure monitor

Central aortic systolic blood pressure (SBP-C) can be estimated from a cuff oscillometric waveform derived during the pulse volume plethysmography (PVP) by applying a device-specific aortic pressure-to-PVP waveform-generalized transfer function (A2PGTF). The present study compared the performance of an aortic-to-brachial pressure waveforms generalized transfer function (A2BGTF), which is independent of any PVP devices, with an A2PGTF. Generalized transfer function of aortic-to-brachial (A2BGTF) and aortic-to-PVP (A2PGTF) were generated from the simultaneously obtained central aortic and brachial pressure waveforms recorded by a high-fidelity dual pressure sensor catheter, and the PVP waveform recorded by a customized noninvasive blood pressure monitor during cardiac catheterization in 40 patients, and were then applied in another 100 patients with simultaneously recorded invasive aortic pressure and noninvasively calibrated (using cuff SBP and diastolic blood pressures) PVP waveforms. The mean difference±s.d. between the noninvasively estimated and invasively recorded SBP-C was −2.1±7.7 mm Hg for A2BGTF, which was not greater than that of −3.0±7.7 mm Hg for A2PGTF (P<0.01). In conclusion, SBP-C can be measured reliably using a noninvasive blood pressure monitor by applying either an A2PGTF or A2BGTF to a noninvasively calibrated PVP waveform. The performance of an A2BGTF is not inferior to that of an A2PGTF.