Blood Pressure Monitors：HUAWEI Smartwatch vs. Cuff-based Monitors

Blood Pressure Monitors:
HUAWEI Smartwatch
v.s Cuff-based Monitors

Reading duration: Approximately 6 minutes

Published: 12/09/2024

Blood pressure is one of the most important control instruments for our health. Knowing the significance and timely detection of high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can help medical professionals recognise diseases at an early stage. Fortunately, with the HUAWEI WATCH D, blood pressure measurement can be done quickly and easily, assisting your doctor in recognizing heart disease risks.

Serge Kownator, MD

Serge Kownator, MD is head of the cardiovascular centre "Coeur de Lorraine" in Thionville, France and a specialist in cardiology and vascular diseases. He is a member of the French Society of Cardiology and a former member of the Congress Programme Committee of the European Society of Cardiology. He made a significant contribution to the 2011 and 2017 ESC guidelines on peripheral arterial disease and regularly speaks at international congresses, some of which he chairs.

What is Blood Pressure?

Why should you Measure your Blood Pressure?

Challenges and Further Developments in Blood Pressure Measurement

Huawei's WATCH D: Proven Medical Technology on the Wrist

How do I Recognise High Blood Pressure and its Symptoms with the HUAWEI WATCH D?

What is Blood Pressure?

Pressure or blood pressure is defined as the pressure within the arteries. This pressure allows the blood to flow to the various organs in the body. This pressure is expressed by two numbers:

•The upper number on the HUAWEI WATCH D represents the systolic pressure, i.e. the pressure exerted on the arterial walls during the blood ejection phase associated with the contraction of the heart.
•The lower number indicates the diastolic pressure, i.e. the residual pressure that prevails in the arteries during the relaxation or filling phase of the heart.

The Dynamics of Blood Pressure
Normally, blood pressure is higher during the day according to the different phases of activity, while it drops at night during the resting phase. It can rise sharply with any kind of stress or heavy exertion. It can fall in hot weather and rise in cold weather.

High blood pressure is present if the blood pressure at rest exceeds 140/90 mmHg in a clinical setting, or 135/85 mmHg when measuring yourself

Good to know - Blood Pressure Values

Normal blood pressure is typically around 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). It is important to note that depending on the time of day, blood pressure can sometimes fluctuate, often rising several hours before a person wakes up, peaking at around midday, and dropping in the late afternoon and evening. This can be easily checked at home using the HUAWEI WATCH D, for example.

Why should you Measure your Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure is the most common risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, especially strokes. According to the WHO, in 2025, 1.5 billion people between the ages of 30 and 79 will be affected by high blood pressure, resulting in significant public health costs. Only half of patients with high blood pressure receive treatment, and of these, only half are treated effectively. Many people do not even realise that they have high blood pressure. Regular measurement, especially in menopausal women, is crucial to recognising and preventing high blood pressure [1,2].

How do you Measure Blood Pressure?
Nowadays, blood pressure is mainly measured in doctors' clinics, hospitals and other medical facilities using three methods: the auscultatory method with a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer, the oscillometric method with automatic devices, or regular home blood pressure monitoring.

1. The auscultatory method is the main non-invasive reference method that remains the method performed during a medical consultation. It can be performed using a cuff connected to a sphygmomanometer. This method is based on listening to the arterial sounds with a stethoscope and has been used for over 100 years, in particular with the Vaquez-Laubry sphygmomanometer, which is named after its inventors (photos 1, 2).

2. Today, the use of an automatic electronic blood pressure monitor through the oscillometric method is also commonly used (photo 3). Regardless of the method, the size of the cuff plays an important role in a meaningful assessment.

3. In addition, regular and manual blood pressure monitoring throughout the day is made possible HUAWEI WATCH D (photo 4), which is of great benefit in special health situations outside of a clinical setting.

The evolution of blood pressure measurement from 1945 to the stylish health device - the HUAWEI WATCH D in 2024.

Challenges and Further Developments in Blood Pressure Measurement

Blood pressure measurement data collected during a doctor's visit is the subject of much debate. Doctor’s visits can inadvertently cause some patients stress, which may lead to blood pressure values being different than from home, or another relaxed environment. Nowadays, measurement methods outside of medical practices are increasingly recommended to support data collected by health professionals in a clinical setting.

Recognising Symptoms of Hypertension Outside of the Clinical Practice - How Accurate are the Measurements?
Blood pressure measurements outside the practice can either be self-measurements, which the patient carries out themselves according to a precisely defined protocol, or an automatic recording over 24 hours, which is called ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM). The latter method can be used to recognise particular forms of high blood pressure, especially nocturnal high blood pressure.

Innovative technologies in blood pressure monitoring
In addition to traditional cuff-based blood pressure monitors, more and more so-called "cuff-less" monitors (without a cuff) are being developed, which are often integrated into networked objects and utilise photoplethysmography (PPG) technology. Here, the blood flow is recorded by measuring light changing and absorption on the surface of the skin. The validation of this technology has not yet been completed, and remains prone to greater inaccuracies than other methods.

In case of hypertension, self-measurement allows an evaluation of the treatment efficiency. Beside the classical electronic device, the HUAWEI WATCH D appears as an easy and accurate device in order to appreciate the results of the treatment.

Huawei's WATCH D: Proven Medical Technology on the Wrist

In addition to these wristband-less blood pressure measuring devices, the HUAWEI WATCH D watch is particularly noteworthy as it has an inflatable pouch within the wristband. For the measurement, this pouch is inflated using a mini-pump integrated into the watch and an oscillometric method is applied. The observed results of the HUAWEI WATCH D’s blood pressure measurements are well validated with deviations of ± 3 mmHg compared to the reference measurements.

The measurement was taken within 30 seconds in a seated position, with the wrist at heart level. The result of the measurement is shown immediately on the watch display and also transmitted to a smartphone if the Huawei Health App is installed on it.

How do I Recognise High Blood Pressure and its Symptoms with the HUAWEI WATCH D?

Measuring blood pressure with the HUAWEI WATCH D is easy to perform, and results appear to be reliable. This makes it easy to recognise high blood pressure, monitor the effectiveness of treatment and take into account fluctuations in blood pressure related to the environment, stress and general health.

Top results: The HUAWEI WATCH D enables simple and accurate measurement of blood pressure values.
The measurements obtained with the HUAWEI WATCH D were validated in several comparative studies using the standard method [3]. These studies showed absolutely satisfactory correlations without statistically significant differences.

In conclusion and to summarise, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a highly important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In most cases, it is not recognised. Although the diagnosis and treatment are the responsibility of the doctor, people play an important role in the detection of hypertension, as well as in the effectiveness of treatment when it occurs. The HUAWEI WATCH D is recommended method of self-measurement due to its ease of use and reliability. Compared to conventional measuring devices, it is intuitive and easy to use.

In addition to blood pressure functions, the watch offers a whole range of health applications, including ECG, heart rate, activity monitoring and much more, which not only supports heart health, but gives a well-rounded overview of one’s health situation on the wrist.

Medical disclaimer:
The HUAWEI WATCH D and the ECG feature is intended to be used by people aged 18 years and over, but is not intended to replace any medical diagnosis or treatment. Data obtained during the use of this device and feature is for personal reference only. Before using the device, please carefully read the Quick Start Guide, Wearing Guide, and Instruction for Use.

Due to national restrictions on obtaining approval / registration as a medical device, the HUAWEI WATCH D and will only be available in selected European markets, and the ECG feature only works on watches and smartphones purchased in countries where the service is available.

- Supported smartphones: Mobile phones with Android 6.0 or compatibles, HarmonyOS 2.0 or compatibles, or iOS 12.0 or compatibles. The Huawei Health app version on your mobile phone must be 11.0 or compatibles. Please make sure that your wearable device and phone are running the latest versions before using ECG.

Heart rate, SpO2, stress and skin temperature are not medical device features, monitoring data and results are for reference only and should not be used as a basis for medical diagnosis or treatment.

[References]

1. Mancia G, Kreutz R, Brunstrom M, Burnier M, Grassi G, Januszewicz A, et al. 2023 ESH Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension The Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension: endorsed by the International Society of Hypertension (ISH) and the European Renal Association (ERA). J Hypertens 2023;41:1874-2071.
2. Kreutz R, Brunström M, Burnier M, Grassi G, Januszewicz A, Muiesan ML, Tsioufis K, de Pinho RM, Albini FL, Boivin JM, Doumas M, Nemcsik J, Rodilla E, Agabiti-Rosei E, Algharably EAE, Agnelli G, Benetos A, Hitij JB, Cífková R, Cornelissen V, Danser AHJ, Delles C, Huelgas RG, Járai Z, Palatini P, Pathak A, Persu A, Polonia J, Sarafidis P, Stergiou G, Thomopoulos C, Wanner C, Weber T, Williams B, Kjeldsen SE, Mancia G. 2024 European Society of Hypertension clinical practice guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Eur J Intern Med. 2024 Aug;126:1-15.
3. Zhang, Wei; Zhou, Yi-Ni; Zhou, Yi; Wang, Ji-Guang. Validation of the watch-type HUAWEI WATCH D oscillometric wrist blood pressure monitor in adult Chinese. Blood Pressure Monitoring, Volume 27, Number 5, 04 July 2022, pp. 353-356(4)