title: [The interarm blood pressure difference in the critically ill patient].
abstract: 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.
authors: Enfermería, Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: finavalls@gmail.com.
authors: Josefa
authors: J
authors: Valls Matarín
authors: Enfermería, Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: del Cotillo Fuente
authors: Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors: Salvador
authors: S
authors: Quintana Riera
authors: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Universitario Mútua Terrassa, Terrassa, Barcelona, España.
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: de la Sierra Iserte
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016638:Critical Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Arms; Blood pressure determination; Brazos; Cuidados intensivos; Enfermería; Intensive care; Medición de la presión arterial; Nursing