Evaluating the Level of Agreement Between AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard Requirements and the HUAWEI D2 Watch-Type Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

An Observational Cross-Sectional Blind Comparison to Evaluate the Level of Agreement Between AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard Requirements and the HUAWEI D2 Watch-Type Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor

Getting an accurate blood pressure (BP) reading is essential for diagnosing high blood pressure and managing it effectively. High blood pressure is a major health problem, causing about 9.4 million deaths worldwide each year. More people need to monitor their BP at home, so there is greater demand for easy-to-use devices. Traditional BP monitors with arm cuffs can be bulky, uncomfortable, and awkward to use.

Modern technology has made it possible to measure BP using wearable devices like smartwatches. HUAWEI has developed a wrist watch that can measure BP and has been tested to meet international standards. The watch passed these tests and was approved for people to use at home to check their own BP. However, the HUAWEI watch was only tested on people in China and the investigators need to know if it works for people from other countries and ethnic backgrounds.

Accurate measurement of blood pressure (BP) is a necessity for the reliable diagnosis and proficient management of hypertension. However, validation of blood pressure monitoring devices only began in the 1980's, followed by a series of ad-hoc validation protocols from differing organisations such as the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI), the British Hypertension Society (BHS), the German Hypertension League, the European Society of Hypertension (ESH), and the International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) over the subsequent three decades. The need for a universally acceptable protocol was recognised and members of the AAMI, ESH, and ISO committees collaborated to re-examine the aspects of validation to achieve a consensus on an optimal validation standard.

With an increased prevalence of hypertension, causing approximately 9.4 million deaths per year worldwide, the demand for non-invasive arterial pressure monitoring devices has also increased to help patients manage blood pressure (BP). Traditionally, non-invasive BP measurement techniques include auscultatory and oscillometric devices, however, these can present with several limitations in terms of cuff size, instruments' bulky volume, and discomfort caused by external pressure. Advancements in technology has meant that wearable devices are becoming readily available for various health related measurements, including BP. The HUAWEI Technology have developed an automated oscillometric wearable wrist watch-type device for BP measurement that has recently been validated in accordance with the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard requirements and can be recommended for self-measurement. However, while this research concluded the HUAWEI watch fulfilled the requirements for self-measurement in the general population, it should be noted that the study was conducted within the Chinese population only. Consequently, to ensure generalisation to a wider population, it is important to examine the HUAWEI watch validity within differing populations. Therefore, the aim of this study will be to explore if the HUAWEI D2 watch-type blood pressure monitor meets the AAMI/ESH/ISO Universal Standard requirements in differing populations.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age >18 years
• Written informed consent provided

Exclusion Criteria:

• Cardiac Arrythmias
• Peripheral Arterial Disease
• Known Heart Disease
• Pregnancy
• Diagnosis of Secondary Hypertension