Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women

Background: In health-care services, when bare upper arm blood pressure (BP) measurement is impractical, the forearm may be used as a surrogate for traditional upper arm BP. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to determine the significant difference and correlation between the upper versus forea...

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Main Author: Thilagavathy Ganapathy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
Series:Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.amhsjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2321-4848;year=2019;volume=7;issue=1;spage=69;epage=73;aulast=Ganapathy
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author Thilagavathy Ganapathy
author_facet Thilagavathy Ganapathy
author_sort Thilagavathy Ganapathy
collection DOAJ
description Background: In health-care services, when bare upper arm blood pressure (BP) measurement is impractical, the forearm may be used as a surrogate for traditional upper arm BP. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to determine the significant difference and correlation between the upper versus forearm BP measurements among low-risk prenatal women. SMaterials and Methods: A total of 156 low-risk prenatal women in the third trimester of pregnancy attending antenatal clinics at Municipal Maternity Corporation Hospitals, Bengaluru, were recruited by purposive sampling. Upper and forearm noninvasive BP (NIBP) measurements obtained by mercury sphygmomanometer, thrice at an interval of 15 min were averaged. The main outcome measures were the significant difference and correlation between the upper arm and forearm BP measurements. Results: The mean systolic BP (SBP) (117.14 ± 3.041 mmHg) and diastolic BP (DBP) (69.31 ± 8.461 mmHg) in the forearm was significantly higher than the upper arm SBP (111.72 ± 5.53; P = 0.002) and DBP (61.46 ± 6.014 mmHg; P = 0.016). The mean difference in SBP between upper and forearm was 5.42 ± 2.016 mmHg and in DBP 7.85 ± 3.204 mmHg. Upper versus forearm BP measurements had revealed a significant positive linear correlation in SBP (r = 0.849; P = 0.013) and DBP (r = 0.816; P = 0.021) by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Clinically 94 (72.31%) had a significant BP measurements difference in forearm versus upper arm by approximately 6–10 mmHg. None of the maternal characteristics were independent predictors for the mean difference in SBP and DBP measurement. Conclusion: Forearm NIBP measurements are higher than the BP obtained at the upper arm location. This must be taken into consideration whenever the forearm is used as an alternative site for the upper arm BP.
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spelling doaj.art-658d1b50a31a4bdb9734c426b3fa16622022-12-21T17:18:00ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsArchives of Medicine and Health Sciences2321-48482019-01-0171697310.4103/amhs.amhs_137_18Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal womenThilagavathy GanapathyBackground: In health-care services, when bare upper arm blood pressure (BP) measurement is impractical, the forearm may be used as a surrogate for traditional upper arm BP. Objective: This exploratory study aimed to determine the significant difference and correlation between the upper versus forearm BP measurements among low-risk prenatal women. SMaterials and Methods: A total of 156 low-risk prenatal women in the third trimester of pregnancy attending antenatal clinics at Municipal Maternity Corporation Hospitals, Bengaluru, were recruited by purposive sampling. Upper and forearm noninvasive BP (NIBP) measurements obtained by mercury sphygmomanometer, thrice at an interval of 15 min were averaged. The main outcome measures were the significant difference and correlation between the upper arm and forearm BP measurements. Results: The mean systolic BP (SBP) (117.14 ± 3.041 mmHg) and diastolic BP (DBP) (69.31 ± 8.461 mmHg) in the forearm was significantly higher than the upper arm SBP (111.72 ± 5.53; P = 0.002) and DBP (61.46 ± 6.014 mmHg; P = 0.016). The mean difference in SBP between upper and forearm was 5.42 ± 2.016 mmHg and in DBP 7.85 ± 3.204 mmHg. Upper versus forearm BP measurements had revealed a significant positive linear correlation in SBP (r = 0.849; P = 0.013) and DBP (r = 0.816; P = 0.021) by Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient. Clinically 94 (72.31%) had a significant BP measurements difference in forearm versus upper arm by approximately 6–10 mmHg. None of the maternal characteristics were independent predictors for the mean difference in SBP and DBP measurement. Conclusion: Forearm NIBP measurements are higher than the BP obtained at the upper arm location. This must be taken into consideration whenever the forearm is used as an alternative site for the upper arm BP.http://www.amhsjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2321-4848;year=2019;volume=7;issue=1;spage=69;epage=73;aulast=GanapathyBlood pressureforearmpregnancyupper arm
spellingShingle Thilagavathy Ganapathy
Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences
Blood pressure
forearm
pregnancy
upper arm
title Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
title_full Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
title_fullStr Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
title_full_unstemmed Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
title_short Difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
title_sort difference in forearm and upper arm blood pressure measurements in prenatal women
topic Blood pressure
forearm
pregnancy
upper arm
url http://www.amhsjournal.org/article.asp?issn=2321-4848;year=2019;volume=7;issue=1;spage=69;epage=73;aulast=Ganapathy
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