Clinical evaluation of the sphygmomat 2 semi-automatic blood pressure monitor.

The Sphygmomat 2 blood pressure monitor is a compact and portable electronic device based on detection of Korotkoff sounds using a piezo-electric microphone. We have compared its accuracy with the Hawksley random zero sphygmomanometer, which is commonly used in epidemiological and pharmacological studies. Comparison of manometers was conducted by two trained observers on 49 people with a wide range of blood pressures. The Sphygmomat 2 was found to have a median difference of 5.2 mmHg for systolic and 1 mmHg for diastolic pressure, in both cases reading higher than the Hawksley sphygmomanometer. The portability, versatility and accuracy suggest that the Sphygmomat 2 is a valuable instrument for general clinical use.