According to the ClinicalTrials . gov database , as of October 2023 more than 10 studies to evaluate cuffless blood pressure measuring devices were recruiting participants .
Several studies have already been completed . In Switzerland , a team evaluated the use of such devices for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring ( ABPM ), which measures blood pressure continuously over 24 hours and is a better predictor of cardiovascular health than noncontinuous measurements .
The study involved 67 patients who performed traditional ABPM , using a cuff device , but also had a watch-like optical sensor placed on their upper arm or wrist opposite the arm wearing the cuff . Although there were differences between the measurements of the two devices , the difference was small and within the limits recommended by the international standard . “ These results are encouraging and suggest that 24-hour cuff-free
ABPM may soon become a clinical possibility ,” the authors noted in their conclusions . In addition , study participants said that the optical sensor was more comfortable and overwhelmingly preferred it to its cuffed alternative .
In South Korea , meanwhile , a recent observational study followed 760 people who used a Samsung Galaxy watch approved in that country for one month to monitor blood pressure . The device requires calibration once a month , but interestingly , 75 percent of the participants did not rely on a single monthly calibration , as suggested , but performed more frequent calibrations . This allowed the researchers to determine that poor calibration can affect the device ’ s measurements and that calibration processes need to be standardized to ensure the device ’ s proper functioning .
But encouragingly , the study also found that “ smartwatch-based blood pressure measurement is feasible for out-of-office blood pressure monitoring in the real world ” — as , on average , participants measured their blood pressure 1.5 times per day .
Will the day come when we can accurately know our blood pressure just by looking at our smartwatch or cell phone ? “ Maybe in time , but not in the near future ,” Avolio says . More studies are needed , he says , before cuffless devices can provide reliable quantitative information to track physiological changes with acceptable accuracy .
Article translated by Debbie Ponchner
The author , Matías A . Loewy , is a science journalist based in Buenos Aires , Argentina . He studied pharmacy at the University of Buenos Aires , and the last time he checked , his blood pressure was normal .
This article was originally published in Knowable . Read the original article here .
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