Key result
In a healthy general population, systolic blood pressure was 2.3 mmHg higher on the right arm than the left (P<0.001), but both arms correlated equally well with target organ damage.
Why the study?
Are both arms equally good in assessing blood pressure and target organ damage in the general population?
Population
484 adults (ages 25-74 years) from a representative sample of the Finnish general population
Comparison
Simultaneous blood pressure measurement on both… vs Right arm versus left arm blood pressure…
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
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Both arms correlate equally with target organ damage; leaves open whether arm selection affects outcomes in prospective cohorts.
Cross-Sectional (n=484)
Are both arms equally good in assessing blood pressure and target organ damage in the general population?
Effect estimate: 2.3 mmHg higher on right arm
p-value: p=<0.001
There is a small interarm blood pressure difference in the healthy general population, but both arms are equally effective at determining target organ damage, supporting the practice of measuring both arms and using the higher reading.
Johansson et al. (2013) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy general population (n=484). Right arm blood pressure measurement vs. Left arm blood pressure measurement was evaluated on Interarm difference in systolic blood pressure (2.3 mmHg higher on right arm, p=<0.001). In a healthy general population, systolic blood pressure was 2.3 mmHg higher on the right arm than the left (P<0.001), but both arms correlated equally well with target organ damage.
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