Independent Study Reveals dabl System Leads the way in Accurate Cardiovascular Diagnosis

By Dabl Ltd, PRNE
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

DUBLIN, June 17, 2010 - An independent study has revealed that Irish Company, dabl's
computerised system for diagnosing 24 hour blood pressure is more accurate
and consistent than a leading group of international hypertension experts.

Conducted by the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh, the study
analysed the interpretation of numerous blood pressure readings taken over a
24-hour period (known as 'Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement' or ABPM).

It concluded that human observers bring an unacceptable degree of
variance to interpretation of ABPM data. By removing the human error, the
dabl decision support system (www.dabl.ie) prevents diagnostic
errors and greatly assists the quality of treatment decisions made
by doctors.

The findings of the study are significant in view of the increasing use
of ABPM in clinical practice to assess blood pressure control throughout the
day and night in patients at risk of cardiovascular events.

It is estimated that high blood pressure is being misdiagnosed in
approximately 40% of all instances when measured with traditional single
clinic measurement. Its major disadvantage is that the limited number of
measurements bears no relationship to the variability of blood pressure over
the 24-hour period. ABPM, on the other hand, allows identification of a
number of patterns of blood pressure behaviour over the 24-hour period that
cannot be identified with any other measurement technique.

The dabl ABPM (www.dabl.ie/en/prod_abpm.aspx) system is the only
ABPM software program to provide an automatic interpretative analysis in
accordance with the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) guidelines. Once
the blood pressure readings are uploaded the user-friendly dabl plot and text
interpretation are automatically generated. Used by many international
centres of excellence it has been extensively validated in numerous
scientific studies over the past10 years.

Commenting on the study, Mr Bill Rickard, Managing Director of dabl
said "it comes as no surprise that computers, in the correct environment,
are more efficient than humans at processing large volumes of raw data.
This study confirms that dabl is an essential decision support tool for
doctors which, will ensure accurate diagnosis, save valuable time and
contribute to quality decision making".

"Not having to wade through pages of raw data will give doctors more
time to consider lifestyle and other factors that comprise the cardiovascular
profile and to recommend appropriate treatments which will help to improve
patient care and safety" stated Rickard.

    Notes to Editors:

    About the study

    - The study was conducted NHS Lothian, Western General Hospital, Crewe
      Road, Edinburgh, UK. Experts in hypertension management and ABPM were
      asked to report on common 24-hr blood pressure patterns and their
      responses were then compared with the dabl ABPM system.
    - Incorrect diagnoses were made by the experts in 13 instances.
      White-coat hypertension and white-coat effect, although obvious in many
      instances, were not identified in five ABPMs; the severity of
      hypertension was not reported in four ABPMs; the severity of nocturnal
      hypertension was not diagnosed in one ABPM by nine experts and isolated
      diastolic hypertension was not identified by six experts in two ABPMs.
      In contrast, dabl accurately interpreted the BP pattern in all
      instances.
    - The findings were published in Blood Pressure Monitoring in June 2010.
      Full citation: Computerized reporting improves the clinical use of
      ambulatory blood pressure measurement, McGowan N, Atkins N, O'Brien E
      and Padfield P, Blood Pressure Monitoring 2010, Vol 15 No 3, Vol 15
      No 3.

    About ABPM

    - Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a non invasive method of
      measuring blood pressure over a 24-hour period. Measurements are
      recorded in a device which is worn by the patient around their waist as
      they go about their daily activities.

    About dabl

    - dabl, which celebrates 10 years of business this year is an Irish
      Company that has developed a suite of an online expert chronic disease
      management systems in collaboration with a number of international
      centres of excellence. The Company is a unique partnership between
      experts in clinical practice and research, management techniques and
      technology.

    Media Contact:
    Paula O'Sullivan, dabl Ltd
    +353(0)1-2780247
    www.dabl.ie

Media Contact: Paula O'Sullivan, dabl Ltd, +353(0)1-2780247

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