Blood Pressure Cuff Sizes for Adults in the United States: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015–2020
Open Access
- 6 September 2022
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in American Journal of Hypertension
- Vol. 35 (11), 923-928
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpac104
Abstract
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. 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. 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/m2). 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. Over half of US adults with hypertension need a large or extra-large BP cuff.Keywords
This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
- Concerning trends in maternal risk factors in the United States: 1989–2018EClinicalMedicine, 2020
- Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in large arms in research and clinical practice: position paper of the European society of hypertension working group on blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular variabilityJournal of Hypertension, 2020
- Measurement of Blood Pressure in Humans: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart AssociationHypertension, 2019
- Mean mid-arm circumference and blood pressure cuff sizes for US children, adolescents and adultsBlood Pressure Monitoring, 2018
- 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice GuidelinesHypertension, 2018
- Factors Associated With Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Among US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2014American Journal of Hypertension, 2017
- Home blood pressure monitoring among adults—American Heart Association Cardiovascular Health Consumer Survey, 2012The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2017
- Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Management of HypertensionAnnals of Internal Medicine, 2013
- Mean mid-arm circumference and blood pressure cuff sizes for US adultsBlood Pressure Monitoring, 2013
- Regular Use of a Home Blood Pressure Monitor by Hypertensive Adults—HealthStyles, 2005 and 2008The Journal of Clinical Hypertension, 2012