Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes for Adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2020. (6th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jackson, Sandra L; Gillespie, Cathleen; Shimbo, Daichi; Rakotz, Michael; Wall, Hilary K
• Is Part Of: American journal of hypertension. Volume 35:Number 11(2022)
• Page Start: 923
• Page End: 928
• Publication Date: 2022-09-06
• Subjects: blood pressure -- disease management -- hypertension; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1093/ajh/hpac104
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-7061

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Hypertension, defined as blood pressure (BP) ≥130/80 mm Hg or antihypertensive medication use, affects approximately half of US adults, and appropriately sized BP cuffs are important for accurate BP measurement and hypertension management. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed 13, 038 US adults (≥18 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–March 2020 cycles. Recommended BP cuff sizes were categorized based on mid-arm circumference: small adult (≤26 cm), adult (>26 to ≤34 cm), large adult (>34 to ≤44 cm), and extra-large adult (>44 cm). Analyses were weighted and proportions were extrapolated to the US population. RESULTS: Among US adults (246 million), recommended cuff sizes were: 6% (16 million) small adult, 51% adult (125 million), 40% large adult (98 million), and 3% extra-large adult (8 million). Among adults with hypertension (116 million), large or extra-large cuffs were needed by over half (51%) overall, including 65% of those aged 18–34 years and 84% of those with obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 ). By race/ethnicity, the proportion needing a large or extra-large cuff was 57% of non-Hispanic Black adults, 54% of Hispanic adults, 51% of non-Hispanic White adults, and 23% of non-Hispanic Asian adults. Approximately 40% of adults with hypertension in Medicare needed a large or extra-large cuff, compared to 54% for private insurance and 53% for Medicaid. CONCLUSIONS: Over half of US adults with hypertension need a large or extra-large BP cuff. Graphical Abstract: