Josefa Valls Matarín1, Mercedes del Cotillo Fuente2, Salvador Quintana Riera3, Alejandro de la Sierra Iserte4. 1. Enfermería, Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: finavalls@gmail.com. 2. Enfermería, Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España. 3. Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España. 4. Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of a difference in systolic blood pressure (SBPd) ≥ 10 mmHg between arms in patients admitted in a Critical Care Unit and to examine the clinical characteristics associated with such blood pressure difference. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study. Two blood pressure measurements in each arm were carried out at unit admission. The firstly measured arm was chosen at random. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixty-eight patients were studied, with a mean age of 61 (SD=16), 67.3% male and 45% with a previous hypertension diagnosis. On admission, 27.4% presented SBPd ≥ 10 mmHg. Among them, 54% had higher SBP in the right arm and 46% in the left one. A SBPd ≥ 10 mmHg was associated with a previous hypertension diagnosis (67.4 versus 36.9%; P<.001) and with reduced consciousness (76.1 versus 52.5%; P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: Over a quarter of critically ill patients have a SBPd ≥ 10 mmHg between arms. This feature is associated with a previous hypertension diagnosis and reduced consciousness. It should be assessed in the future if the choice of a control arm would help improve patient's care as it would become a more accurate guide for hemodynamic management.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of a difference in systolic blood pressure (SBPd) ≥ 10 mmHg between arms in patients admitted in a Critical Care Unit and to examine the clinical characteristics associated with such blood pressure difference. METHODS: Observational cross-sectional study. Two blood pressure measurements in each arm were carried out at unit admission. The firstly measured arm was chosen at random. RESULTS: One-hundred and sixty-eight patients were studied, with a mean age of 61 (SD=16), 67.3% male and 45% with a previous hypertension diagnosis. On admission, 27.4% presented SBPd ≥ 10 mmHg. Among them, 54% had higher SBP in the right arm and 46% in the left one. A SBPd ≥ 10 mmHg was associated with a previous hypertension diagnosis (67.4 versus 36.9%; P<.001) and with reduced consciousness (76.1 versus 52.5%; P=.006). CONCLUSIONS: Over a quarter of critically illpatients have a SBPd ≥ 10 mmHg between arms. This feature is associated with a previous hypertension diagnosis and reduced consciousness. It should be assessed in the future if the choice of a control arm would help improve patient's care as it would become a more accurate guide for hemodynamic management.