Author/Authors :
Maduagwu Stanley M نويسنده Department of Physiotherapy, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria , Umeonwuka Chuka I نويسنده Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medical Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria , Mohammad Hauwa H نويسنده Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medical Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria , Oyeyemi Adetoyeje Y نويسنده Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Medical Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria , Nelson Ebinyo C نويسنده Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Niger Delta University , Jaiyeola Olabode A نويسنده Department of Physiotherapy, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria , Nwachukwu Juliet O نويسنده Nyanya general Hospital Abuja
Abstract :
[Background]Averting recurrent stroke among stroke survivors requires a choice of the appropriate arm for blood pressure (BP) measurement, especially among high - risk survivors.[Objectives]This study aimed at determining the appropriate arm for BP measurement in stroke survivors.[Methods]This cross sectional study comprised of 100 volunteer and willing stroke survivors enrolled using the convenient sampling technique from 2 public hospitals in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Each participant’s BP was measured as stipulated by previous studies. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the socio - demographics and clinical characteristics of the stroke survivors. Student’s t - test for independent samples was used to compare mean BP between unaffected and affected arms of the participants.[Results]Mean age and age range of the participants in years were 53.8 + 17.7 and 20 to 90, respectively. Participants that had had a stroke within the previous 7 months accounted for 69.0% of cases. Spastic stroke constituted 71%. Sides of the body afflicted with stroke were equally distributed. A significant difference (p = 0.017) existed in blood pressure between unaffected and affected arms of stroke survivors.[Conclusions]Health workers involved in the management of stroke patients were advised to take blood pressure measurement from both the affected and non-affected arms; the arm with the higher value should be taken as the reference arm.
