Korean Circ J.  2016 May;46(3):374-383. 10.4070/kcj.2016.46.3.374.

Inter-Arm Difference in Brachial Blood Pressure in the General Population of Koreans

• Song BM
• Kim HC
• Shim JS
• Lee MH
• Choi DP

• KMID: 2344450
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4070/kcj.2016.46.3.374

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
We investigated the inter-arm difference in blood pressure of the general Korean population to identify associated factors.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS
A total of 806 participants aged 30 to 64 years without history of major cardiovascular disease were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. They participated in the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center cohort study that began in 2013. Brachial blood pressure was measured simultaneously for both arms using an automated oscillometric device equipped with two cuffs in seated position. After five minutes of rest, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were measured three times. The average of the three measurements was used for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with inter-arm differences in blood pressure.
RESULTS
The mean inter-arm difference was 3.3 mmHg for SBP and 2.0 mmHg for DBP. Large inter-arm differences (≥10 mmHg) in SBP and in DBP were found in 3.7% and 0.9% of subjects, respectively. A large inter-arm difference in SBP was associated with mean SBP (p=0.002) and C-reactive protein (p=0.014) while a large inter-arm different in DBP was only associated with body mass index (p=0.015). Sex, age, and anti-hypertensive medication use were not associated with differences in inter-arm blood pressure.
CONCLUSION
Large inter-arm difference in blood pressure is only present in a small portion of healthy Korean adults. Our findings suggest that high SBP, chronic inflammation, and obesity may be associated with larger difference in inter-arm blood pressure.

Keyword

Blood pressure; Korean; General population

MeSH Terms

Adult
Arm
Blood Pressure*
Body Mass Index
C-Reactive Protein
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cohort Studies
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Inflammation
Logistic Models
Metabolic Diseases
Obesity
Posture
C-Reactive Protein

Figure

• 

  Fig 1 Distribution of inter-arm blood pressure differences. (A) Inter-arm SBP difference (right-left), mmHg. (B) Inter-arm DBP difference (right-left), mmHg. SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure.

• 

  Fig 2 Distribution of absolute values of inter-arm blood pressure differences. (A) Absolute inter-arm SBP difference, mmHg. (B) Absolute inter-arm DBP difference, mmHg. SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure.

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