THE International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT), a Europe- based product testing centre has come out with a useful study of 24 brands of blood pressure monitors thereby assisting consumers in choosing the right brand.
Since most of the brands tested are available in India, the study is relevant to Indian patients as well. The ICRT is an association of 37 consumer organisations from 33 countries world-wide.
Blood pressure monitors at homes have some advantages.
Firstly one need not visit a doctor.
Secondly the stress of visiting a doctor is avoided in the test results.
Finally it is handy and can be used by anyone with some training.
The brands which were tested included AEG, Beurer, Boso, Happy Life, Omron, Panasonic, Sanitas, Rossmax, Dupont etc. Blood pressure monitors for use in homes are either semiautomatic (manual inflation) or automaticinflation.
Automatic monitors have everything contained in one unit, so it’s easier to handle than systems with a separate gauge and stethoscope.
Most home blood pressure monitors are portable and have a ring cuff for one-handed application.
The measure either at the upper arm or wrist, though a few are also finger models.
Experts say that those that measure pressure at the upper arm are best, as there is too great a chance for error when blood pressure is measured elsewhere.
The tests were conducted by a jury consisting of 32 test persons, including sufferers of high blood pressure and diabetes. Each monitor was used on each test person.
Blood pressure monitors are of three types – aneroid monitor, digital monitor and finger/wrist blood pressure monitor.
The digital monitor is easier to use than an aneroid one. This device is good for hearing impaired patients, as there is no need to listen to heart sounds through the stethoscope.
However the disadvantage is that the accuracy is changed by body movements or an irregular heart rate. The finger/wrist monitors, do not measure blood pressure accurately.
The tests have revealed that the ‘Boso’ brand fared well as two of its models got the top scores. The brand Rossmax A40 was found to be least accurate. It got a score of 1.96 in the accuracy test.
The Delhi-based Voluntary Organisation in the Interest of Consumer Education (VOICE), has taken up product testing aggressively, and is coming out with two test reports a month. The reports are published in their magazine ‘Consumer Voice.’ Given the fact that consumer organisations thrive on donations and product testing costs lot of money, it is essential that consumers assist organisations like voice by subscribing to Consumer Voice.
For details write to Editor, VOICE, 441, Jungpura, Mathura Road, New Delhi-110014, or visit their website www.consumervoice.org
creatorg@sify.com