Association of interarm blood pressure difference with cardio-cerebral vascular disease: A community-based, cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Interarm blood pressure difference (IAD) is a risk factor for peripheral artery disease and cardio-cerebral vascular disease (CCVD). The current study examines the association of IAD with stroke and coronary heart disease in a Chinese community. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Pudong New Area in Shanghai, China. A total of 10657 residents aged 15years and older were randomly selected through three-stage sampling. Volunteers had systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) measured in both arms at recruitment, and IAD was defined in both arms as the absolute difference in BP. Medical records of study participants were reviewed by investigators to confirm measurements. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between systolic interarm blood pressure difference (sIAD) and diastolic interarm blood pressure difference (dIAD) with stroke and coronary heart disease. Compared with dIAD <5mmHg, the multivariate adjusted odds ratio (OR) of stroke prevalence was 1.357 (95% CI 0.725-2.542, P=0.034) for dIAD ≥20mmHg and 1.702 (95% CI1.025-2.828, P=0.040) for dIAD between 15 and 19mmHg, and the multivariate adjusted OR of coronary heart disease prevalence was 1.726 (95% CI 1.093-2.726, P=0.019) for dIAD ≥20mmHg and 1.498 (95% CI 0.993-2.261, P=0.044) for dIAD between 15 and 19mmHg. The relationship between cardio-cerebral vascular disease and dIAD was significant in a Chinese community population. Further cohort studies are needed to investigate the association of different levels of IAD with the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and subsequent mortality.