[Selection and maintenance of the blood pressure monitor for self-blood pressure monitoring (SBPM)].

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The choice of an attested blood pressure (BP) monitor with an adequate arm cuff size and its proper maintenance are crucial for obtaining reliable results in Self-Blood Pressure Monitoring (SBPM) practice. The aim of the study was to assess the factors determining the BP monitor selection, its purchase place and technical use aspects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two hun. dred consecutive patients with arte. rial hypertension regularly performing SBPM (100 individuals from a munici. pal primary health care centre and 100 from a specialized hypertension office at a university cardiology clinic, aged 57.7 +/-12.4 years, 54.0% female) have undergone an inquiry study based on the European Society of Hyperten. sion (ESH) guidelines for home BP monitoring. RESULTS: Almost half of the re. spondents are utilizing BP monitors that are not routinely recommended for SBPM: wrist devices - 22.0%, aneroid appliances -15.0%, mercury monitors - 7.0% and finger monitors - 1.0%. Only 45.0% of the study participants have checked if the cuff size is ap. propriate, whereas arm circumference in 26.0% of the patients exceeded 34 cm and in 3.5% of the individuals was below 24 cm. As few as 2.5% of SBPM practitioners perform regular techni. cal checkups of their BP monitors. Patients of a specialized hypertension office have significantly more often chosen their BP apparatus according to the doctor's recommendation than primary health care patients (27.0% vs 12.0%, p=0.007, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Sphygmomanometer type and appropriate arm cuff size selections for SBPM is random. The aspects of BP monitor attest and its proper maintenance are neglected. Physicians recommend an adequate BP apparatus choice too rarely.