How effective are cuffless devices for measuring blood pressure? All you need to know

Cuffless devices, such as smartwatches, rings and fingertip monitors, are on the rise when it comes to evaluating blood pressure. Without any need for a traditional cuff, these devices use technology to measure blood pressure. Despite all these advances, there are still doubts about the accuracy of such devices. A recent scientific statement published in the American Heart Association’s journal Hypertension provided some significant insights into the effectiveness of the cuffless devices. Limitations According to the statement, cuffless BP devices, “increasingly available for purchase on the international market, have the potential to remove barriers to BP measurement in both research and clinical care. However, there are unanswered questions about whether, how, and in which settings these devices may be suitable for use.” It further stated that the gaps include the importance of recognizing whether the somewhat idiosyncratic and often enormous volume readings obtained by these devices have significant relationships with clinical outcomes and are relevant to deciding appropriate interventions. In the segment titled, “Conclusion and Future Directions,” the statement mentioned that major limitations must be addressed before people can fully benefit from this new technology. “Cuffless blood pressure devices are easy to use, convenient and capable of regular or continuous monitoring, which may provide insight into blood pressure changes during daily life and sleep. However, the speed of commercialization has surpassed science,” says chairperson of the scientific statement writing group Jordana Cohen, an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. Recommendations Earlier this year, the 2025 AHA/ACC High Blood Pressure Guidelines shared some recommendations on this matter. “Reliance on cuffless devices, including smartwatches, for accurate blood pressure measurements should be avoided until these devices demonstrate greater accuracy and reliability,” it said. According to the American Heart Association, cuffless devices often provide high volume readings, many picked up in settings where blood pressure measurements were not previously performed, such as during sleep and physical activity. The clinical relevance of these data remains uncertain, it added. Frequently Asked Questions How many people in the US have high blood pressure? Latest data from the American Heart Association indicates that nearly half of American adults (about 122 million) have high blood pressure. Is high blood pressure a leading cause of death worldwide? Yes. Worldwide, it affects an estimated 1.4 billion adults. What are cuffless devices? These are portable devices used to measure blood pressure.