Effect of talking on mean arterial blood pressure: Agreement between manual auscultatory and automatic oscillometric techniques

This study aimed to provide quantitative clinical data on the comparison of the effect of talking on both manual and automatic blood pressure (BP) measurements. Manual auscultatory systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) were obtained from 20 healthy subjects under resting and talking conditions. During the measurement the oscillometric cuff pressure was also recorded digitally. Manual mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated from the empirical equation. Automated MAP was determined from the peak of the 6th order polynomial model envelope fitted to the sequence of oscillometric pulse amplitudes. The effect of talking on both manual and automated MAPs was then quantified and compared. Talking increased both manual and automated MAPs significantly by 5.4 mmHg and 5.2 mmHg respectively in comparison with those from the resting condition (both P<;0.001). The increases of manual and automated MAPs were moderately correlated with a regression slope of 0.87 and R square value of 0.4. Our results provide scientific support for measurement protocols asking subjects not to talk during the measurement.