The History and Innovation of Home Blood Pressure Monitors

According to the report of World Health Organization (WHO), hypertension is the most important health risk. So, the prevention, early detection and treatment of hypertension are important. Recently, the average blood pressure value in Japan decreases year by year. Such promising change is attributed to: 1) popularization of home blood pressure monitors, 2) evolution of antihypertensive medication, and 3) increasing awareness of hypertension. About 200 million Omron blood pressure monitors have been used worldwide, and its share is estimated at about 50% of the total. Since the development of the first electronic blood pressure monitor in 1973, Omron has continuously improved blood pressure monitor to enable everyone easily and accurately measure blood pressure with four major innovations as below: 1) Measurement method, 2) Algorithm, 3) Cuff, 4) Electronics. The prevailing of electronic blood pressure monitors and clinical studies have evolved the hypertension management. Omron made the innovation of blood pressure measurement that changed from measurement at clinic to measurement at home, and Omron blood pressure monitor contributed to establish the fundamental evidence of home blood pressure. At present, there are 15 million patients suffering from heart attack or stroke every year in the world. Omron has aspiration towards a society with zero heart attacks and zero strokes, by tailoring diagnosis and medication to each individual with the development of wearable blood pressure monitor and continuous blood pressure monitor.