Objectives: To compare the Omron HEM-713C automated blood pressure machine with the standard ausculatory method using a mercury manometer.
Design: Blood pressures of randomly selected subjects were measured using both the Omron HEM-713C and the mercury manometer.
Setting: Dombotombo surburb in Marondera, Zimbabwe.
Subjects: One hundred and sixteen subjects 25 years and above (47 males and 69 females) randomly selected in Marondera.
Main outcome measure: Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
Results: The Omron HEM-713C passed with a grade B for both systolic and diastolic blood pressures when using the British Hypertension Society protocol. It also passed both systolic and diastolic criteria for Association of the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation.
Conclusion: The Omron HEM-713C compares well with the standard mercury manometer, we therefore recommend its use in both research and clinical applications which require blood pressure measurements.