Contributing Factors for the Increased Inter-arm Systolic Blood Pressure Difference in Different Age Groups

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE To explore the contributing factors for the increased inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference (IASBPD) in young, middle-aged, and elderly people. METHODS A total of 51,428 workers in Kailuan who underwent arteriosclerosis detection of extremities during physical examination from 2010 to 2020 were selected as the subjects. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to the age segment proposed by the World Health Organization: young, middle-aged, and elderly group. Each age group was subsequently divided into 2 groups according to whether the IASBPD was increased: IASBPD 15 mm Hg and IASBPD >15 mm Hg group. The detection rate of IASBPD >15 mm Hg in each age group was calculated, and the contributing factors of IASBPD >15 mm Hg in different age groups were analyzed via multifactor logistic regression model. RESULTS The detection rate of IASBPD >15 mm Hg was 15.65% in all the subjects, and it was 12.90%, 15.28%, and 20.69% in the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, respectively (χ2 = 343.83, P < 0.01). In all the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, the risk factors for IASBPD >15 mm Hg included decreased ankle–brachial index (ABI), elevated body mass index (overweight and obesity), male, elevated brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and hypertension. Furthermore, elevated high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was a risk factor for increased IASBPD in young people (odds ratio [OR] = l.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.04). And elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was a risk factor (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15) for increased IASBPD in middle-aged people, and the high level of education was a protective factor (OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.79–0.94). Diabetes (OR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.16–1.42) and old age (OR = 1.01, 95% CI 1.01–1.02) were risk factors for increased IASBPD in the elderly people, and high level of education (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.74–0.95) and elevated high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (OR = 0.82, 95% CI 0.72–0.93) were protective factors. CONCLUSIONS The detection rate of IASBPD >15 mm Hg increases with the increase of age in the young, middle-aged, and elderly groups. Decreased ABI, elevated overweight obesity, male, elevated baPWV, and hypertension are common risk factors for increases IASBPD in 3 age groups. Furthermore, elevated hsCRP, elevated LDL-C, diabetes mellitus, and old age are risk factors for increased IASBPD in young, middle-aged, and elderly group, respectively.