Cuffless Blood Pressure Monitoring: Promises and Challenges

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2020 Oct 7;15(10):1531-1538. doi: 10.2215/CJN.03680320. Epub 2020 Jul 17.

Abstract

Current BP measurements are on the basis of traditional BP cuff approaches. Ambulatory BP monitoring, at 15- to 30-minute intervals usually over 24 hours, provides sufficiently continuous readings that are superior to the office-based snapshot, but this system is not suitable for frequent repeated use. A true continuous BP measurement that could collect BP passively and frequently would require a cuffless method that could be worn by the patient, with the data stored electronically much the same way that heart rate and heart rhythm are already done routinely. Ideally, BP should be measured continuously and frequently during diverse activities during both daytime and nighttime in the same subject by means of novel devices. There is increasing excitement for newer methods to measure BP on the basis of sensors and algorithm development. As new devices are refined and their accuracy is improved, it will be possible to better assess masked hypertension, nocturnal hypertension, and the severity and variability of BP. In this review, we discuss the progression in the field, particularly in the last 5 years, ending with sensor-based approaches that incorporate machine learning algorithms to personalized medicine.

Keywords: Ambulatory; Blood Pressure Determination; Blood Pressure Monitoring; Blood Pressure Monitors; Heart Rate; Machine Learning; Masked Hypertension; blood pressure.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Blood Pressure
  • Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / instrumentation*
  • Calibration
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / physiopathology*
  • Machine Learning*
  • Manometry
  • Pulse Wave Analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Wearable Electronic Devices*