THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTER-ARM BLOOD PRESSURE AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONGST STAFF OF ACHIEVERS UNIVERSITY

Hypertension and high body mass index (BMI) are major global health concerns closely linked to cardiovascular disease. Inter-arm blood pressure difference (IABPD) has emerged as a clinically relevant indicator of vascular dysfunction, yet its relationship with BMI remains underexplored. This cross- sectional study investigated the relationship between inter-arm systolic blood pressure differences and BMI among 113 staff members of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State. Blood pressure was measured in both arms using a validated digital sphygmomanometer, and anthropometric data were collected alongside a structured questionnaire assessing demographic, lifestyle, and medical history variables. A statistically significant inter-arm systolic blood pressure difference was observed, with the right arm recording a higher mean value (121.76 ± 14.47 mmHg) than the left arm (118.89 ± 13.97 mmHg), yielding a mean difference of 2.87 mmHg (t = 4.02, p < 0.001). A strong positive correlation was found between both arms (r = 0.858, p < 0.001). Normotensive participants showed a higher mean inter-arm difference (7.54 mmHg) compared to hypertensive participants (4.26 mmHg), though hypertensive status was positively correlated with inter-arm variation (r = 0.313, p = 0.001). No statistically significant relationship was found between BMI and inter-arm blood pressure difference, possibly due to sample size limitations and confounding variables. These findings underscore the clinical importance of bilateral blood pressure measurement and highlight the need for larger, stratified studies to further clarify the role of BMI in inter- arm blood pressure variability. Keywords: Inter-arm blood pressure difference, BMI, hypertension, cardiovascular risk, systolic blood pressure