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Impact of calibration on estimates of central blood pressures

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 26, pages 706–710 (2012)Cite this article

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A Corrigendum to this article was published on 15 November 2012

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Abstract

Using the Sphygmocor device it is recommended that the radial pressure wave is calibrated for brachial systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). However it has been suggested that brachial-to-radial pressure amplification causes underestimation of central blood pressures (BPs) using this calibration. In the present study we examined if different calibrations had an impact on estimates of central BPs and on the clinical interpretation of our results. On the basis of ambulatory BP measurements, patients were categorized into patients with controlled, uncontrolled or resistant hypertension. We first calibrated the radial pressure wave as recommended and afterwards recalibrated the same pressure wave using brachial DBP and calculated mean arterial pressure. Recalibration of the pressure wave generated significantly higher estimates of central SBP (P=0.0003 and P<0.0001 at baseline and P=0.0001 and P=0.0002 after 6 months). Using recommended calibration we found a significant change in central SBP in both treatment groups (P=0.05 and P=0.01), however, after recalibrating significance was lost in patients with resistant hypertension (P=0.15). We conclude that calibration with DBP and mean arterial pressure produces higher estimates of central BPs than recommended calibration. The present study also shows that this difference between the two calibration methods can produce more than a systematic error and has an impact on interpretation of clinical results.

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Change history

  • 15 November 2012

    This article has been corrected since Advance Online Publication and a corrigendum is also published in this issue.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the work of Professor Dr Ir Patrick Segers on this paper and the help of MD Thomas Broecher Christophersen on statistical analysis. We also thank Colorstripe, www.colorstripe.com, for help with artwork. This work was supported by the Danish Heart Foundation, Tømrermester Alfred Andersen og hustrus fond and the Region of Southern Denmark.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Research, University Hospital of Odense, Svendborg Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark

    T K Soender & K Egstrup

  2. Heymans Institute of Pharmacology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    L M Van Bortel

  3. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Copenhagen Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    J E Møller

  4. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Odense, Svendborg Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark

    J Lambrechtsen

  5. Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Odense, Svendborg Hospital, Svendborg, Denmark

    J Hangaard

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  1. T K Soender
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  2. L M Van Bortel
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  4. J Lambrechtsen
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Correspondence to T K Soender.

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Competing interests

Trine Koustrup Soender has received a grant from Novartis to cover registration fee for Euroecho in 2009, a grant from GE healthcare to cover registration fee for Euroecho 2010 and a registration fee covering an echocardiographic course arranged by GE Healthcare.

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Soender, T., Van Bortel, L., Møller, J. et al. Impact of calibration on estimates of central blood pressures. J Hum Hypertens 26, 706–710 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.97

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