English

Abstract

Interarm blood pressure difference is linked to various peripheral arterial diseaseand thus occupies great significance in vascular medicine. Due to various physiological&pathological changes vessels suffer with hardening that produces measurable inter armblood pressure difference. Less than one in 5 physicians is interested in measuring bloodpressure in both arms. Objectives: to study the interarm blood pressure difference amongmedical students and its association with age, gender, BMI. Study Design: Cross-sectionalstudy. Setting: Karachi. Period: September 2015 to November 2015. Methodology: Data wascollected from 305 individuals, Blood pressure was measured by designated technician withstudents in sitting position with at least 5 minutes of rest, among healthy nonsmokers medicalstudents of DUHS. Results: Mean weight of individuals was 57.4+- 12.9 kg. Mean height wasfound to be 164.6+-9.5 mm of Hg. Mean BMI of individuals was 21.0 +-3.78 kg/m2. Mean rightarm systolic blood pressure was found to be 102.9+-13.4 mm of Hg. Mean right arm diastolicpressure was found to be 64.1+-12.8 mm of Hg. Mean left arm systolic blood pressure wasfound to be 101.8 +-13.0 mm of Hg. Mean left arm diastolic blood pressure was found tobe 64.4+-12.9 mm of Hg. Mean interarm systolic blood pressure was found to be 7.4+-7.6mm of Hg. Mean interarm diastolic blood pressure difference was found to be 8.6+-8.5 mmof Hg. Conclusions: Regular measurement of blood pressure in both arms and assessmentof interarm blood pressure difference can lead to a new era where vascular events can bediagnosed at an earlier stage and thus treated earlier