Ankle blood pressure averaged higher than arm pressure
In adults without peripheral artery disease, ankle and arm readings differed. A prediction model estimated arm pressure better than fixed formulas.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Among the included adults, ankle systolic blood pressure was higher on average than arm pressure. A model using multiple variables estimated arm pressure more accurately than fixed arithmetic formulas. This supports better prediction of a measurement, but the abstract does not establish that using the model improves treatment decisions or health outcomes.
People with peripheral artery disease were excluded. This abstract-based brief cannot assess detailed model performance across patient groups, and the abstract does not report outcome follow-up duration.
What researchers found
Mean ankle versus arm systolic blood pressure
Measurements taken lying down; 95% confidence interval for the mean difference: 8.8 to 15.2 mm Hg. Measurement timing was not reported.
Why the average needs care
The average difference describes the pooled measurements. Researchers also developed and validated a model to estimate arm pressure from ankle pressure; it performed better than existing fixed arithmetic formulas.
Health outcomes were examined separately
Pressure from the lower-reading ankle was associated with cardiovascular events. Neither overall nor cardiovascular mortality showed a statistically significant association with ankle pressure. These observational findings cannot establish causation, and nonsignificance does not demonstrate no association.
The original publication
Arm Based on LEg blood pressures (ABLE-BP): can systolic ankle blood pressure measurements predict systolic arm blood pressure? An individual participant data meta-analysis from the INTERPRESS-IPD Collaboration.
McDonagh STJ, Warren FC, Sheppard JP et al.
BMJ Open · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40500230
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.