Key result
Among healthy young adults, there was a significant absolute mean inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference of 5.03 mm Hg (p<0.001), associated with age and family history of hypertension.
Why the study?
Studies regarding inter-arm blood pressure difference have been conducted in older or diseased populations, but very limited studies have evaluated healthy young adults.
Cross-Sectional (n=230)
No
Significant inter-arm systolic blood pressure differences exist even in healthy young adults and are associated with a family history of hypertension, supporting the practice of measuring BP in both arms at initial assessment.
May warrant bilateral BP checks in young adults; leaves open prognostic value and causal links to hypertension.
Introduction: Inter-arm difference (IAD) in blood pressure is the difference in the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure between arms of an individual. Studies regarding IAD among elderly, pregnant women, patients with cardiovascular disease and diabetes have been conducted but there are very limited studies carried out among young healthy adults. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the inter-arm blood pressure difference and its association with age, sex, BMI and family history of hypertension among Nepalese healthy young adults. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 230 students of Kantipur Dental College, Kathmandu, Nepal. Blood pressure was measured using a mercurial sphygmomanometer. Statistical analysis was done using paired t test, chi-square and Pearson’s correlation test using SPSS 16. Results: The absolute mean IAD for SBP was 5.03±3.88 mm Hg and for DBP was 3.84±3.77 mm Hg. There is significant inter-arm difference for SBP (t=4.882, p<0.001) but not for DBP. Inter-arm SBP difference was significantly associated with family history of hypertension (χ2 = 6.41, p=0.01) and positive but weakly correlated with age (r = +0.135, p=0.04). There is no significant association of inter-arm SBP difference with sex and BMI. Meanwhile, there is no statistically significant association of sex, family history of hypertension, age and BMI with inter-arm DBP. Conclusions: There is a significant inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference among the healthy young Nepalese adults and it is associated with the positive family history of hypertension and age.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Pun et al. (2020) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy young adults (n=230). Inter-arm blood pressure difference was evaluated on Absolute mean inter-arm difference for systolic blood pressure (MD 5.03, p=<0.001). Among healthy young adults, there was a significant absolute mean inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference of 5.03 mm Hg (p<0.001), associated with age and family history of hypertension.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: