Inter-arm difference in systolic blood pressure: Prevalence and associated factors in an African population

Gwladys Nadia Gbaguidi; Audrey Kaboure; Yessito Corine Houehanou; Salimanou Ariyo Amidou; Dismand Stephan Houinato; Victor Aboyans; Philippe Lacroix

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0272619

Inter-arm difference in systolic blood pressure: Prevalence and associated factors in an African population

PLoS One. 2022 Aug 31;17(8):e0272619. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0272619. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Gwladys Nadia Gbaguidi^{1

2}, Audrey Kaboure², Yessito Corine Houehanou^{1

3}, Salimanou Ariyo Amidou¹, Dismand Stephan Houinato^{1

2

4}, Victor Aboyans^{2

5}, Philippe Lacroix^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Health Sciences, Laboratory of Chronic and Neurologic Diseases Epidemiology, LEMACEN, University of Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Benin.
² INSERM, Univ. Limoges, CHU Limoges, IRD, U1094 Tropical Neuroepidemiology, Institute of Epidemiology and Tropical Neurology, GEIST, Limoges, France.
³ ENATSE, University of Parakou, Parakou, Benin.
⁴ Neurology Unit, CNHU Cotonou, Cotonou, Benin.
⁵ Department of Cardiology, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France.
⁶ Department of Vascular Medicine, CHU Limoges, Limoges, France.

Abstract

Objectives: Inter-arm blood pressure difference (IABPD) can lead to underdiagnosis and poor management of hypertension, when not recognized and are associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. However, the prevalence and associated risk factors of IABPD in sub-Saharan Africa are unknown. This study aims to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of IABPD among Tanve Health Study (TAHES) participants, a cohort about cardiovascular diseases in a rural area in Benin.

Methods: The cohort was conducted since 2015 among adults aged 25 years and over in Tanve village. Data were collected from February to March, 2020. Brachial blood pressure were recorded at rest on both arm with an electronic device. Systolic IABPD (sIABPD) was defined as the absolute value of the difference in systolic blood pressure between left and right arms ≥ 10 mmHg. A multivariate logistic regression models identified factors associated with sIABPD.

Results: A total of 1,505 participants (women 59%) were included. The mean age was 45.08 ±15.65 years. The prevalence of sIABPD ≥ 10 mmHg was 19% (95%CI: 17-21). It was 19% (95%CI: 16-22) in men and 20% (95%CI: 17-22) in women. In final multivariable model, the probability of sIABPD ≥ 10 mmHg increased significantly with age (adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.1; 95%CI: 1.02-1.20 per 10-years), hypertension (aOR = 2.33; 95%CI: 1.77-3.07) and diabetes (aOR = 1.96; 95%CI: 1.09-3.53).

Conclusion: Almost quarter of sample have a sIABPD ≥ 10 mmHg, with an increased risk with older age and hypertension and diabetes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Blood Pressure / physiology
Blood Pressure Determination
Diabetes Mellitus* / diagnosis
Female
Humans
Hypertension*
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Risk Factors

Grants and funding

The Foundation for high blood pressure research, Paris, France, supported this survey. The sponsors had no role in the design, methods, participant’s recruitment, data collection, analysis, or preparation of this manuscript.