Systolic Interarm Blood Pressure and eGFR

Researchers at Al-Quds University, Abu Dis, Jerusalem, Palestine, led by Raghad Sweity, conducted a study designed to examine the association between systolic inter-arm blood pressure (IABPD) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), as well as chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The cross-sectional study included 189 Palestinians diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The researchers collected study data via personal interview and medical records. Eligible participants had three separate blood pressure measurements from both arms.

Participants were characterized by (1) systolic IABPD ≥15 mmHg and (2) the presence of CKD (defined as eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m² over a period of 3 months). Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to clarify the associations between systolic IABPD (mmHg) and eGFR and to identify independent predictors for eGFR.

Mean age of the overall cohort was 61.3 years, and 57.7% were female. The prevalence of systolic IABPD ≥15 mmHg was 27.5% and the prevalence of CKD was 30.2%.

Among patients with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m², the median systolic IABPD was 12.5 mmHg, compared with 7.5 mmHg in patients with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² (P=.021). There was no association between systolic IABPD and eGFR in the multiple linear regression model. There significant negative associations between older age, hypertension, and a longer duration of diabetes and eGFR

In conclusion, the authors said, “Systolic IABPD did not exhibit an independent association with eGFR in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, older age, a previous history of hypertension, and a longer duration of diabetes mellitus were all significantly associated with lower eGFR.”

Source:  Annals of Medicine