The Normal Difference in Bilateral Indirect Blood Pressure Recordings in Hypertensive Individuals

Abstract

Abstract. Objective:If there is a significant dichotomy between bilateral systolic blood pressure determinations in both arms in hypertensive individuals, it is often taken as a sign of underlying pathology. The primary objective was to determine what the normal variation might be for a significant difference between blood pressures in both arms. A clinically significant difference was chosen as a systolic blood pressure value greater than 10 mm Hg between the upper extremities, as is commonly quoted at the bedside and in the literature. Methods: Bilateral indirect blood pressure determinations were obtained in 100 subjects with hypertension in the sitting position. The blood pressure was obtained by two observers, one the recorder and the other who obtained the blood pressure but was blinded to the actual values taken. The order of blood pressure determination in the first arm was determined prior to the study from a table of random numbers. The coefficient of variation in obtaining the blood pressure in each arm was determined in 5 of the 100 subjects. The age, sex, and handedness of each individual were recorded as demographic variables. Results:The average left and right systolic blood pressures were 139 Ϯ 22 and 141 Ϯ 22 mm Hg, respectively. The average left and right diastolic blood pressures were 78 Ϯ 12 and 79 Ϯ 13 mm Hg, respectively. There was no significant difference between left minus right systolic or diastolic differences (paired t-test). There was no significant difference between systolic or diastolic blood pressures between gender or between left-and right-handed individuals (nonpaired t-test). The average coefficients of variation for taking right and left arm systolic pressures were 2.90% and 1.32%, respectively. Eighteen subjects (18%) had differences in systolic blood pressure between both arms exceeding 10 mm Hg (10% to 26%, 95% confidence interval). Conclusions: Differences of more than 10 mm Hg in indirect systolic blood pressure recordings between arms are frequent in asymptomatic hypertensive individuals and do not per se indicate any pathologic condition. In the right clinical situation, differences that are noted should be repeated and should be added to the total clinical picture when used to determine whether a pathologic condition is present. Assuming no significant aortic or subclavian disease in the population tested, the specificity of the bilateral blood pressure test was 82%.

A study of the association with blood pressure difference causing body temperature ≥37·5°C and hypertension in department of primary care

“…Significant DBP was defined as absolute DBP (|DBP|) ! 10 mmHg (Bots et al, 1997;Orme et al, 1999;Cassidy & Jones, 2001;Pesola et al, 2002;Kimura et al, 2004;Clark et al, 2007Clark et al, , 2012Poon et al, 2008;Verberk et al, 2011). A previous study by Kampo medicine reported that, in the strength of Kyojitsu (hypermetabolic state), KSG area ratio increased with increase in temperature (Maeda, 2012) and that KSG was associated with nervous function in essential hypertensives (Acampa et al, 2009).…”

The Systolic Blood Pressure Difference Between Arms and Cardiovascular Disease in the Framingham Heart Study

“…It has been suggested that identification of inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference is crucial for appropriate identification and treatment of hypertension 7–9 , for clinical decision making and surveillance 1, 10, 11, 12, 13 . Inter-arm systolic blood pressure differences have been studied in patients in primary care settings 14–16 , in patients with various manifestations of vascular disease 17–19 , and in population-based cohorts 3, 6, 16 . It has been found to correlate with classic and novel cardiovascular risk factors and may be predictive of cardiovascular events.…”

Blood pressure differences between arms and association of dominant hands with blood pressure differences and carotid atherosclerosis

“…Some researchers reported that right arm BP tends to be higher than left arm BP [1,2] or vice versa [3], whereas others reported no BP difference between arms [4,5]. Some researchers reported that right arm BP tends to be higher than left arm BP [1,2] or vice versa [3], whereas others reported no BP difference between arms [4,5].…”

“…The Japanese Association for Cerebro-cardiovascular Disease Control (JACD) suggests that right arm BP or higher BP should be recorded. Some investigators measured DBP in both arms simultaneously by using two same devices for stable patients, such as subsequent outpatients, in the sitting position [4,[5][6][7][8], whereas others used a four-limbed device for those in the supine position [6,11,12]. Thus, the measurement method recommended by an academic society in JACD (right arm BP) differs from that widely used at homes (left arm BP).…”