Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part C (2025)

Differences in blood pressure between arms above 10mmHg has been reported in several studies to be associated with increased cardiovascular events such as cerebrovascular accident and mortality. It is not yet a common practice among clinicians in Nigeria to measure blood pressure in both arms especially in patients with morbidities such as hypertension and diabetes. The aim of the study was to evaluate the inter-arm blood pressure difference in diabetic subjects including those with co-existing hypertension. The study population was obtained using convenience sampling method and comprised of male and female diabetic subjects including those patients with co-existing hypertension ≥20 years, from the cardiology and endocrinology units of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi. Normotensive subjects of the same age range and gender were used as control. Blood pressure was measured thrice, simultaneously on both arms using the digital sphygmomanometer and the average of three readings was used in all the subjects. The result of the finding showed no significant Inter-arm blood pressure difference in all the subjects. There was no significant difference in the systolic and diastolic inter-arm blood pressure difference of individuals with co-existing hypertension and diabetes in relation to those with only diabetes suggesting that the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes may have no adverse effect on inter-arm blood pressure difference.