Objective: To study the differences in blood pressure readings between the
auscultatory and oscillometric (Dinamap model 8100; Critikon, Tampa, Fla) m
ethods.
Design: Survey of 2 blood pressure instruments.
Setting: Public schools.
Participants: Seven thousand two hundred eight schoolchildren aged 5 throug
h 17 years.
Main Outcome Measure: Blood pressure levels.
Results: For all children. combined, Dinamap systolic pressure readings wer
e 10 mm Hg higher (95% confidence interval, -4 to 24 mm Hg) than the auscul
tatory systolic pressure readings. Dinamap diastolic pressure readings were
5 mm Hg higher (95% confidence interval, -14 to 23 mm Hg) than the auscult
atory Korotkoff phase V diastolic pressure readings.
Conclusion: These findings preclude the interchange of readings by the 2 me
thods. Caution must be exercised in the diagnosis of hypertension when an a
utomated device is used.