'Legacy publication of a 2009 validation of the Riester Big Ben Square Desk aneroid device for blood pressure measurement according to the European Society of Hypertension International Protocol for validation of blood pressure measuring devices in adults (2002)'

Objective: To report a validation of the Riester Big Ben Square Desk Aneroid Sphygmomanometer according to the international protocol developed by the Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring of the European Society of Hypertension 2002 (ESH-IP 2002) in the interest of transparency. This legacy publication is intended to assure users that the device satisfied the requirements in place at that time.

Methods: Performance of the device was assessed by participants' age, sex, arm circumference and entry SBP/DBP. Validation was performed in 33 participants. The sphygmomanometer was assessed according to the ESH-IP, which defines zones of accuracy compared to the mercury standard as ≤5, ≤10, ≤15 mmHg or more.

Results: The mean (± SD) age was 50.5 ± 13.0 years, range 29-71 years, entry SBP 142.6 ± 23.7 mmHg, entry DBP 89.0 ± 17.8 mmHg. The device passed all the requirements listed and the validation protocol. The Riester Big Ben Square Desk aneroid sphygmomanometer slightly underestimated the observer-measured SBP, yet slightly overestimated DBP. The observer-device disagreement was -0.8 ± 6.4 mmHg SBP and +0.6 ± 4.0 mmHg DBP.

Conclusion: These data show that the Riester Big Ben Square Desk aneroid sphygmomanometer fulfilled the ESH-IP 2002 requirements for the validation of BP monitors. It was on this basis that the British and Irish Hypertension Society recommended it for clinical use in the adult population.