Only 5.5 percent of the devices stocked by international e-commerce businesses validated
MONDAY, April 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most home blood pressure (BP) devices available online are nonvalidated, and they are sold at a lower cost than validated ones, according to a study published online April 13 in Hypertension.
Dean S. Picone, D.S., from the University of Tasmania in Hobart, Australia, and colleagues examined the number, type, percentage validated, and cost of home BP devices available online. Searches were restricted to devices available for Australia as an example of those available through the global online marketplace. A total of 59 online businesses selling 972 unique BP devices were included.
The researchers found that the BP devices identified included 278 upper-arm cuff devices (18.3 percent validated), 162 wrist-cuff devices (8.0 percent validated), and 532 wristband wearables (0 percent validated). Of the devices, 92.4 percent were stocked by international e-commerce businesses; only 5.5 percent were validated. Compared with nonvalidated BP devices, validated cuff devices were more expensive (median, 101 versus 67.4 Australian dollars).
“Most BP devices available for online purchase and use by patients for self-home BP monitoring have not been tested for accuracy according to internationally accepted standards,” the authors write. “Additional research is needed to determine the extent to which nonvalidated BP devices are being used for home BP monitoring and its impact on cardiovascular outcomes.”
Several authors disclosed financial ties to the medical device industry.
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