
{"id":42251,"date":"2025-03-04T18:39:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-04T18:39:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aktiia.com\/uk\/?p=42251"},"modified":"2026-02-24T16:14:35","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T16:14:35","slug":"how-accurate-is-hilo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/how-accurate-is-hilo\/","title":{"rendered":"How Accurate Is the Hilo Blood Pressure Monitor?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Monitoring blood pressure, a key health parameter, has <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/beyond-the-blood-pressure-cuff-the-history-future-of-blood-pressure-measurement\/\">traditionally required bulky equipment<\/a>, trained medical personnel and been confined to clinical settings. Usually, blood pressure monitoring only takes place when other health concerns come to light, or on an ad-hoc basis, which means that there are often long intervals between readings. However, if blood pressure data are collected on a regular basis, monitoring of the results can provide valuable insight into a person\u2019s overall health and wellbeing over a long period, rather than just at a snapshot in time, giving fuller, richer data. For such a neglected metric, blood pressure can provide significant information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Times \u2013 and technologies \u2013 are changing. Increasingly, people are looking to monitor their health at home, with blood pressure increasingly coming to the fore as a metric for measurement. Commonly, this is done using commercially available cuff devices, either on the upper arm or the wrist. However, while these devices can give blood pressure values at a snapshot in time, they don\u2019t always generate the data that\u2019s useful and comparable. What would be more useful to physicians is a collection of accurate, aggregated and regular supply of blood pressure readings that can be relied upon to make diagnoses and manage treatments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!-- Hilo Lead Magnet Newsletter Box -->\n<style>\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline {\n    background: #14A959;\n    border-radius: 12px;\n    padding: 36px 30px;\n    margin: 40px 0;\n    box-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(20, 169, 89, 0.2);\n    text-align: center;\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-image {\n    max-width: 100%;  \n    margin: 0 auto 28px;\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-image img {\n    width: 100%;\n    height: auto;\n    border-radius: 10px;\n    display: block;\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline h3 {\n    color: #fff;\n    font-size: 30px;\n    margin: 0 0 14px 0;\n    font-weight: 700;\n    line-height: 1.4;\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline p {\n    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.95);\n    font-size: 16px;\n    line-height: 1.6;\n    max-width: 620px;\n    margin: 0 auto 22px; \/* single, clean margin rule *\/\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline .privacy-note {\n    color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);\n    font-size: 12px;\n    margin-top: 12px;\n  }\n  \/* Mobile layout (edge-to-edge like your example) *\/\n@media (max-width: 600px) {\n  \/* Full-bleed green box *\/\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline {\n    width: 100vw;\n    margin-left: calc(50% - 50vw);\n    margin-right: calc(50% - 50vw);\n    padding-left: 0;\n    padding-right: 0;\n    border-radius: 0;\n  }\n  \/* Image: absolute max width, no spacing *\/\n  .hilo-newsletter-image {\n    max-width: 100%;\n    margin: 0;\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-image img {\n    width: 100%;\n    display: block;\n    border-radius: 0;\n    margin-bottom: 32px;\n  }\n  \/* Text keeps inner spacing *\/\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline h3,\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline p,\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline .privacy-note {\n    padding-left: 16px;\n    padding-right: 16px;\n  }\n  \/* Heading size as defined *\/\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline h3 {\n    font-size: 22px;\n  }\n  \/* Form spacing only *\/\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline .klaviyo-form-Vpcycs {\n    padding-left: 16px;\n    padding-right: 16px;\n    margin-top: 8px;\n    margin-bottom: 16px;\n  }\n  .hilo-newsletter-inline .klaviyo-form-Vpcycs input {\n    margin-bottom: 12px;\n  }\n}\n<\/style>\n<div class=\"hilo-newsletter-inline\">\n  <div class=\"hilo-newsletter-image\">\n    <img decoding=\"async\"\n      src=\"https:\/\/d13srqa9by0uyd.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/06152523\/lm-uk2.jpg\"\n      alt=\"7-Day Blood Pressure Notebook\"\n      loading=\"lazy\"\n    >\n  <\/div>\n  <h3>Understand Your Blood Pressure Patterns in a Week<\/h3>\n  <p>\n    Want to get a better handle on your blood pressure?\n    Our 7-day notebook helps you see which factors truly influence it.\n    Be perfectly prepared for your next doctor&#8217;s appointment \u2013 includes an evaluation guide\n    and conversation starters.\n  <\/p>\n  <div class=\"klaviyo-form-Vpcycs\" style=\"margin-bottom: 14px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n  <div class=\"privacy-note\">\n    Your data is secure. Unsubscribe at any time.\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Wearable technology is now at the forefront of the healthcare innovation revolution. It is helping to make efficient use of healthcare resources and leading to more precise management of a variety of conditions with better patient outcomes \u2013 in particular for hypertension (high blood pressure), thanks to personalised recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This article focuses on the <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/blood-pressure-monitor\/\">Hilo Band and Hilo App<\/a> (formerly Hilo), and how together they\u2019re making blood pressure monitoring more accurate, convenient and accessible. Worn unobtrusively on the wrist, the device is ideal for use both day and night to provide a consistent data stream on an individual\u2019s blood pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As with any new technology, the million-dollar question is: how well does it perform? That\u2019s especially true for medical devices. And in the case of the Hilo Band, just how accurate, reliable and effective is it? To answer these questions, let\u2019s learn more about the technology that the Hilo device uses for blood pressure readings and the regulatory testing and validation it has undergone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does the Hilo Blood Pressure Monitor Achieve Accurate Readings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Hilo\u2019s Optical Blood Pressure Monitoring (OBPM) technology uses optical sensors to gather photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals from the arteries in the wrist. The shape of the PPG waveform contains information about blood pressure, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/science\/\">OBPM algorithm strips out the \u2018noise\u2019<\/a> to turn these signals into systolic (pressure when the heart beats) and diastolic (pressure when the heart rests between beats) readings, along with resting heart rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The accuracy of blood pressure monitors is validated under the ISO 81060-2 standard, which stipulates that a product must be tested against a trusted reference device: examples include an arterial line, an arm cuff and a stethoscope, and a volume clamp on the finger. In one <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/MBP.0000000000000531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">clinical trial<\/a>, it was shown that the Hilo blood pressure monitoring device performed within the ISO accuracy standards for systolic and diastolic measurements, as well as for measurements taken across multiple body locations. It was <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiovascularnews.com\/aktiias-wrist-mounted-blood-pressure-monitor-gains-ce-mark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">awarded the CE Mark as a Class IIa medical device in December 2020<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accuracy Through Comparison<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Setting-up and maintaining the Hilo Band device regularly is key to accurate readings. To improve accuracy, Hilo optimises calibration: prior to the first measurements, four reference measurements are now taken using the included cuff &#8211; one per day over four days. This creates more data points that help minimise deviations from the outset. After the initial setup, recalibration is only needed once per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Hilo blood pressure monitor is the only device available on the market that continually collects data and compares it with a monthly reference value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why is continuous blood pressure monitoring important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To understand why continuous blood pressure monitoring is important, it\u2019s worth comparing this method to traditional, inconsistent monitoring in clinical settings. Traditional cuff-based blood pressure monitors, while widely used, have their limitations and potential sources of error which could lead to inaccurate readings, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>White Coat Syndrome: Some individuals experience elevated blood pressure readings in clinical settings due to anxiety or stress, even if their blood pressure is typically normal at home.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cuff size and positioning: Fit and positioning of the cuff can significantly influence the accuracy of the readings. An ill-fitting cuff, or one that\u2019s improperly positioned, can result in readings that are either too high or too low.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Intermittent readings: As blood pressure naturally fluctuates throughout the day and is influenced by various factors, a single reading might not accurately reflect an individual\u2019s overall blood pressure health. In addition, a single-point reading might not take into account <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/blood-pressure-at-night\/\">what happens to your blood pressure overnight<\/a> or the phenomenon known as the \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/morning-high-blood-pressure\/\">morning surge<\/a>\u2019.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Hilo Band now also tracks sleep duration linking your sleep patterns with nocturnal blood pressure trends. This is especially relevant for identifying nocturnal or masked hypertension, conditions that traditional daytime-only measurements would miss entirely.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Irregular heart rhythm: In people with arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms, cuff-based devices <a href=\"https:\/\/support.aktiia.com\/en\/support\/solutions\/articles\/80000901722-how-accurate-is-aktiia-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">may not accurately capture blood pressure<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary advantage of continuous monitoring is the ability to capture a comprehensive view of an individual\u2019s blood pressure throughout the day and night. Unlike intermittent readings, the <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/\">Hilo Band<\/a> provides a more detailed picture of blood pressure patterns and fluctuations. These can help health professionals make more informed decisions about treatment plans and lifestyle recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accuracy Through Aggregation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider your driving habits when passing through a stretch of road monitored by speed cameras versus an average speed check zone. This analogy helps to distinguish between traditional cuff-based monitors and Hilo\u2019s continuous measurement approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Speed cameras, like cuff devices, capture a snapshot of your driving speed at a single point in time. However, this might not accurately represent your driving norms. For instance, you might slow down upon noticing the camera and speed up again once you\u2019ve passed it (of course, we\u2019re certain you never do that). The point is: this one-off measurement may not reflect your typical driving speed, much like how a single blood pressure reading may not truly represent your overall blood pressure health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the other hand, average speed check systems, which in this metaphor is the <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/\">Hilo Band<\/a>, monitor your speed over a longer distance or period. This gives a more representative sample of your driving behavior. These systems calculate your average speed between two points, averaging your speed to offer a rounded, more meaningful view of your driving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hilo\u2019s continuous blood pressure monitoring allows for the 24\/7 capture of blood pressure variations, providing a more nuanced and accurate understanding. Plus, it can level-out a host of factors that can affect your readings throughout the day \u2013 particularly around <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/best-time-to-take-blood-pressure\/\">eating, drinking or smoking habits<\/a>. In addition, the Hilo Band now includes an integrated step counter that directly relates your physical activity to blood pressure values. This means you can see how your daily movement \u2014 or lack of it \u2014 influences your cardiovascular health, all captured passively without any manual input.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accuracy Plus Convenience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In everyday use, reviews suggest the Hilo combination of device and app work well together. The app helps visualise blood pressure readings, which in turn can motivate lifestyle changes \u2013 what we call \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1161\/hyp.79.suppl_1.P304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the Hilo effect<\/a>\u2019. While the watch tracks changes in blood pressure over time, the app helps make sense of the data, so blood pressure monitoring quickly becomes a routine part of daily life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition, the optical signals from the bracelet are checked by the app before being processed and returned by Hilo\u2019s cloud-based algorithms. This helps to ensure that only trusted, validated data is displayed. If regularly synchronised, the app quickly updates with the latest data, offering near real-time access to blood pressure information. And even if users don\u2019t sync regularly, the bracelet has enough memory to store 30 days of sensor data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, no device is infallible, and while some reviews have highlighted that the readings from the Hilo device may occasionally vary, the deviation is within acceptable limits. <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/science\/\">The team at Hilo are continuously evolving and improving the product<\/a>, and it is hoped that in future, comparison with an arm cuff may not be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, just because you have blood pressure data at your fingertips you still need to have regular health checks as part of a comprehensive health strategy, which includes blood pressure monitoring, with healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sign up for the newsletter and get the most up-to-date information on cardiovascular wellness at any age!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"klaviyo-form-RCf4a6\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\">&nbsp;<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion: Accuracy That the Future of Healthcare Can Rely On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To sum up, the Hilo blood pressure monitor is helping to reshape approaches to blood pressure monitoring and its accuracy has been rigorously tested to meet international standards. By adopting continuous monitoring, the <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/\">Hilo blood pressure monitoring device<\/a> can offer a more comprehensive, nuanced, aggregated and accurate view compared to traditional methods. With the easy-to-use Hilo device and app, patients can take proactive control of their health, improve disease management and their quality of life. So, as we move towards an era of personalised, connected and digitised healthcare, devices like the Hilo solution will play an increasingly pivotal role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Disclaimer: If you have hypertension and you plan to start blood pressure exercises, we encourage you to speak to your healthcare professional.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond the Cuff: The History &amp; Future of Blood Pressure Monitoring. Hilo. <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/beyond-the-blood-pressure-cuff-the-history-future-of-blood-pressure-measurement\/\">https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/beyond-the-blood-pressure-cuff-the-history-future-of-blood-pressure-measurement<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hilo Band <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/blood-pressure-monitor\/\">https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/blood-pressure-monitor<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A. Vybornova; E. Polychronopoulou; A. Wurzner-Ghajarzadeh; S. Fallet; J. Sola; G. Wuerzner (2021). Blood pressure from the optical Hilo Bracelet: a 1-month validation study using an extended ISO81060-2 protocol adapted for a cuffless wrist device. <em>Blood Pressure Monitoring<\/em>, 26 (4), 305. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/MBP.0000000000000531\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/MBP.0000000000000531<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hilo\u2019s Hilo wrist-mounted blood pressure monitor gains CE mark. Cardiovascular news. <a href=\"https:\/\/cardiovascularnews.com\/aktiias-wrist-mounted-blood-pressure-monitor-gains-ce-mark\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/cardiovascularnews.com\/aktiias-wrist-mounted-blood-pressure-monitor-gains-ce-mark<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join the Dots: Sleep, Blood Pressure, Health, and Wellbeing. Hilo. <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/art\/blood-pressure-at-night\">https:\/\/hilo.com.com\/uk\/art\/blood-pressure-at-night<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Morning Surge. Hilo. <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/morning-high-blood-pressure\/\">https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/morning-high-blood-pressure<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How accurate is Hilo Band? Hilo. <a href=\"https:\/\/support.aktiia.com\/en\/support\/solutions\/articles\/80000901722-how-accurate-is-aktiia-\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/support.aktiia.com\/en\/support\/solutions\/articles\/80000901722-how-accurate-is-aktiia<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s the Best Time to Take Your Blood Pressure? Hilo. <a href=\"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/best-time-to-take-blood-pressure\/\">https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/art\/best-time-to-take-blood-pressure<\/a> (Accessed December 2024)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>J. Sola; D. Perruchod; M. Cortes; J. Pandit; M. D. Lobo; G. Wuerzner; N. D. Fisher; J. Shah (2022). Abstract P304: Persistent Use Of Hilo 24\/7 Blood Pressure Monitor Is Associated With Lower Blood Pressure In Hypertensive Patients. <em>Hypertension<\/em>, 70, 1. <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1161\/hyp.79.suppl_1.P304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1161\/hyp.79.suppl_1.P304<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hilo Band is helping to reshape approaches to blood pressure monitoring. Its accuracy has been rigorously tested to meet international standards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":51409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[152,164],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-42251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-art","category-health-tech"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42251"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":263018,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42251\/revisions\/263018"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hilo.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}