Selected Sources of Error in Blood Pressure Assessment

Error Effect Error Effect

Bladder cuff to Erroneously high Deflating cuff to Erroneously high

narrow slowly diastolic reading

Bladder cuff too Erroneously high

wide

Arm unsupported Erroneously high Failure to use the Inconsistent

same arm measurements
consistently

Insufficient rest Erroneously high Arm above level of Erroneously low

before the the heart
assessment

Repeating Erroneously high Assessing Erroneously high

assessment too systolic or low immediately after a
quickly diastolic readings meal or has pain

Cuff wrapped too Erroneously high Failure to identify Erroneously low

loosely or unevenly auscultatory gap systolic pressure
and erroneously low
diastolic pressure
Deflating cuff too Erroneously low
quickly systolic and high
diastolic reading