Participant experience with the SpaceLabs 90227 ambulatory blood pressure monitor and SOMNOmedics ABPMpro device

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is recommended for confirming hypertension and assessing out-of-office blood pressure (BP). However, patient burden and device tolerability may limit broader implementation. We compared participant experience with a traditional oscillometric ABPM device and a compact cuff-integrated ABPM. The PRO-BP Study was a pilot randomized crossover study of 20 adults in New York City. Participants completed two 24-h ABPM periods over 7 days using the SpaceLabs 90227 and SOMNOmedics ABPMpro devices. After each period, participants rated comfort, pain, sleep interference, embarrassment, noise, skin irritation, and interference with daytime activities. Both devices achieved guideline-based recording-quality thresholds. Compared with SpaceLabs, ABPMpro was associated with greater comfort [median: 7.0 (interquartile range - IQR: 5.0-8.5) vs. 3.5 (IQR: 2.0-6.5); P = 0.026] and less pain [1.5 (0-3.5) vs. 5.0 (0.5-7.0); P = 0.022]. Other experience ratings did not differ significantly. Participant experience should be considered alongside recording quality when evaluating validated ambulatory BP monitoring technologies.