Hypertension meters in the test Only a device with a good rating!

Many devices to measure blood pressure can not convince

Hardly any disease is as prevalent as hypertension. According to the Robert Koch Institute, almost every third person in Germany suffers from hypertension. Hypertension is the biggest risk factor for the development of heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is responsible for most deaths. Accordingly, there is also a large market for blood pressure gauges. But as a big test recently showed, most of them can not inspire. What to look for when buying, we have summarized for you!

The Stiftung Warentest recently published its test results of 14 known devices for measuring blood pressure. Since these devices make an important contribution to the monitoring of blood pressure and thus also to monitoring the risk of myocardial infarction, one should think that the measuring devices are of particularly high quality. However, as Stiftung Warentest shows, this is unfortunately not the case. Only one out of 14 devices was rated "good".

Not every sphygmomanometer provides reliable measurement results. Stiftung Warentest and the German High Pressure League have taken a closer look at the devices. (Image: think4photop / fotolia.com)

How reliable are common blood pressure monitors?

Many households use blood pressure monitors and users rely on the measurement results. Rightly? Stiftung Warentest says no. The foundation tested 14 devices in the price range between 15 and 80 euros. Eight devices measure blood pressure on the upper arm and six on the wrist. Only one device was found to be good overall.

Lack of measurement accuracy

Especially in terms of measurement accuracy many devices could not deliver the desired accuracy. In contrast, most of the measuring instruments performed well in the operation. Thus, at least for many devices is ensured that they can be used correctly without medical assistance.

What are the high blood pressure values??

To avoid errors in blood pressure measurement, it is important to know what the measurement results mean. These always consist of two numbers, the systolic value and the diastolic value. The systolic value is the pressure that prevails when the heart muscle contracts to force the blood through the veins. At this time, the pressure is highest. In contrast, the diastolic value indicates the blood pressure that prevails in the arteries during the relaxation phase of the heart. Both values ​​are given in units of millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The following overview provides information on what the measured values ​​mean:

• low blood pressure: 105 to 119 mmHG systolic; 60 to 79 mmHG diastolic
• normal blood pressure: 120 to 129 mmHG systolic; 80 to 84 mmHG diastolic
• border area: 130 to 139 mmHG systolic; 85 to 89 mmHG diastolic
• mild hypertension: 140 to 159 mmHG systolic; 90 to 99 mmHG diastolic
• moderate high blood pressure: 160 to 179 mmHG systolic; 100 to 109 mmHG diastolic
• severe hypertension: over 180 mmHG systolic; over 110 mmHG diastolic

The test winner can not fully convince

The best thing in the test was the device "ExactFit 5" from Braun, which is available for about 65 euros and was the only measuring device to receive the test grade "good" (2.5) These were rated as satisfactory with deviations of up to 7.5 mmHG, which is why Stiftung Warentest also recommends the test winners from 2016: the "Omron RS2" wrist gauges for around 26 euros and "Boso Medistar +" for around 25 euros.

The German high pressure league comments on the test results

The German high pressure league publishes its own seal of approval for sphygmomanometers and commented on the test results of Stiftung Warentest in a press release. In contrast to Stiftung Warentest, the German high-pressure league places only value on the measuring accuracy of the devices, as this is the most relevant criterion. Stiftung Warentest also evaluated the user guidance and the processing of the measuring instruments. Thus, a measuring device could achieve the first place, although this has slight defects in the measurement accuracy.

Here, the measurement accuracy is in the foreground

The German high pressure league emphasizes that their results are not comparable with those of Stiftung Warentest. The league checks at the request of the device manufacturers blood pressure monitors and awards a seal of approval according to the criterion of measurement accuracy. The tests would be carried out by independent testing institutes, which are not named to the client. In this list of the German high pressure league you will find the devices that have been provided with a seal for reliable measurement accuracy. (Vb)