Blood pressure variation between arms may be linked to CV risk.

MedPage Today (1/30, Phend) reports, "A substantial difference in blood pressure from one arm to the other could be a warning sign for overall cardiovascular and mortality risk," according to a meta-analysis published online in The Lancet. Investigators found that "a systolic pressure difference of 15 mm Hg or more between the right and left arm was linked to a 70% elevated risk of death from cardiovascular causes (P=0.01)." The researchers reported that "that pressure differential also pointed to a 60% higher likelihood of dying from any cause (P=0.02)."

        HealthDay (1/30, Reinberg) reports, "It makes no difference which arm has the higher or lower pressure, it's the difference between them that matters, the study authors said."