Commonly Used Arm Positions Can Substantially Overestimate Blood Pressure Readings
October 15th, 2024Via: MedicalXpress:
A study led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers concludes that commonly used ways of positioning the patient’s arm during blood pressure (BP) screenings can substantially overestimate test results and may lead to a misdiagnosis of hypertension.
In a report on the study, which was published Oct. 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine, investigators examined the effects of three different arm positions: an arm supported on a desk, arm supported on a lap, and an unsupported arm hanging at the patient’s side.
Researchers found that lap support overestimated systolic pressure (the top number in a BP reading) by nearly 4 mmHg, and an unsupported arm hanging at the side overestimated systolic pressure by nearly 7 mmHg.
The findings confirm that arm position makes a “huge difference” when it comes to an accurate blood pressure measurement, says Tammy Brady, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair for clinical research in the Department of Pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, medical director of the pediatric hypertension program at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, deputy director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology, and Clinical Research and senior author of the study.
And they underscore the importance of adhering to clinical guidelines calling for firm support on a desk or other surface when measuring blood pressure, the investigators add.
