Evaluation of Ambulatory and Self-Initiated Blood Pressure Monitors by Pregnant and Postpartum Women

Abstract

Objective. To investigate the acceptability of an ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) monitor (SpaceLabs 90207) and a self-initiated blood pressure monitor (Omron HEM-705CP) to pregnant women.

Methods. Acceptability of the SpaceLabs 90207 and Omron HEM-705CP monitors was evaluated, using a modified British Hypertension Device assessment form, by (1) healthy, pregnant women at < 15 weeks (n = 120), 35–37 weeks (n = 81), and 5–9 weeks postpartum (n = 86); and (2) women with preeclampsia (n = 52).

Main Outcome Measures. A monitor was acceptable if a woman graded the overall impression as “good” or “very good.”

Results. Healthy women at <15 and 35–37 weeks' gestation and preeclamptic women reported the SpaceLabs 90207 monitor caused discomfort in 54%, 52%, and 60%, interfered with activities in 38%, 40%, and 23%, and disturbed sleep in 62%, 52% and 31%, respectively. Fewer than 12% in any group reported these problems with the Omron HEM-705CP monitor. In the 78 women who evaluated both monitors at 35–37 weeks, the SpaceLabs 90207 and Omron HEM-705CP were acceptable to 78% and 95% of healthy women, respectively (p = 0.005). Women with preeclampsia rated the SpaceLabs 90207 as “bad” or “fair” (14%), “good” (58%), and “very good” (28%) compared with “bad” or “fair” (8%), “good” (28%), and “very good” (64%) for the Omron HEM-705CP monitor (p= 0.009).

Conclusions. Pregnant women found the less intensive blood pressure monitoring with the Omron HEM-705CP more acceptable than the 24-h ABP monitoring with the SpaceLabs 90207. If accurate self-initiated blood pressure devices become available, pregnant women would prefer this method of home blood pressure monitoring.

Key Words:

• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• Home blood pressure monitoring
• Evaluation
• Pregnancy