Arm Position and Blood Pressure Measurement Accuracy During Pregnancy

NCT07405723 · tracked via the Priya Life Science Israel tracker

Sponsor

Sheba Medical Center

Phase

Not applicable

Started

2026-04-12

Last updated

2026-04-16

Condition(s) studied

PregnancyBlood Pressure Measurement in PregnancyHypertensive Disorder of Pregnancy

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Arm Supported at Heart LevelArm Supported on LapArm Unsupported at Side

Arm Supported at Heart Level: Blood pressure measurements are obtained with the arm supported at heart level while the participant is seated.

Arm Supported on Lap: Blood pressure measurements are obtained with the arm supported on the participant's lap while seated.

Arm Unsupported at Side: Blood pressure measurements are obtained with the arm unsupported at the participant's side while seated.

Study summary

Accurate blood pressure measurement is essential during pregnancy, as blood pressure readings guide clinical decisions related to the diagnosis and management of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Clinical guidelines recommend measuring blood pressure with the arm supported at heart level; however, in routine practice, blood pressure is often measured with the arm in non-standard positions.

This study aims to evaluate how different arm positions affect blood pressure measurements in pregnant women. Pregnant women attending a high-risk pregnancy clinic will undergo blood pressure measurements with the arm placed in several commonly used positions, including supported at heart level, supported on the lap, and unsupported at the side. Each participant will have multiple measurements taken during a single clinic visit.

The study is designed as a randomized crossover trial with stratification by trimester and chronic hypertension status, allowing each participant to serve as her own control. Participants will be enrolled across all three trimesters of pregnancy, and results will be analyzed separately for each trimester. The primary outcome is the difference in systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements between arm positions.

The findings of this study may help improve the accuracy of blood pressure measurement during pregnancy and inform clinical practice regarding optimal measurement techniques.

Eligibility

Sex

FEMALE

Min age

18 Years

Max age

55 Years

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Inclusion Criteria: * Pregnant women aged 18 to 55 years * Singleton or multiple viable intrauterine pregnancy * Gestational age corresponding to first, second, or third trimester at the time of enrollment * Ability to sit upright comfortably for the duration of blood pressure measurements * Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Preexisting significant cardiac disease (e.g., arrhythmias, congenital heart disease, severe valvular disease) * Chronic kidney disease defined as serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL at enrollment * Significant upper limb or shoulder conditions that may affect arm positioning or blood pressure measurement (e.g., lymphedema, fractures, prior surgery, arteriovenous fistula) * Neurological or musculoskeletal conditions preventing proper positioning * Severe preeclampsia, eclampsia, or other acute medical conditions requiring immediate intervention * Major fetal anomaly * Intrauterine fetal demise

Primary outcome measure(s)

Difference in Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Between Arm Positions — At the study visit (single study visit on the day 1 of enrollment)
The within-participant difference in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure measurements obtained with the arm supported at heart level, supported on the lap, and unsupported at the side. Blood pressure values are calculated as the mean of triplicate measurements for each arm position.

Trial sites (1)

Facility	City	Region	Status
Sheba Medical Center	Ramat Gan	Israel	Recruiting

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Official registry record

This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.

View NCT07405723 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in Israel