FOREARM COPMARED TO UPPER ARM BLOOD PRESSURE READINGS

Abstract

Objective: Studies comparing forearm and upper-arm blood pressure (BP) readings have given varied results. It is likely that higher blood pressure readings are obtained with forearm measurement when compared with upper-arm blood pressure readings. In order to evaluate values of forearm blood pressure in population we nalysed sample of patients with normal ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) values. Design and method: Two hundred and fifty-seven patients with normal ABPM values were studied. Mean body mass index was 23 +/-6 kg/m2. Patients had three upper-arm and three forearm BP taken by Microlife validated device. Appropriate cuff was used. Mean BP was calculated from three BP consecutive measurements. Student’s t-test was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age was 42.4+/-11.6 years. There were 127 females. Mean forearm and upper- arm systolic BPs were 142.7 +/- 16.5 mmHg, and 122.3 +/- 16.6 mmHg. Mean forearm, and upper- arm diastolic BPs were 86.8 +/- 13.4 mmHg, and 72.8 +/- 11.6 mmHg. Systolic and diastolic upper-arm BP measurements were significantly lower than forearm BP measurements. Conclusions: This study revealed that we need forearm blood pressure reference values because there is significant difference between forearm and upper-arm BP measurements. The increasing number of obese people presents a very serious clinical challenge to doctors being faced with the inaccurate measuring blood pressure (BP) in patients with very large arms.