Abstract: Objective　To investigate the relationship between systolic pressure difference between arms (sIAD) and ankle-brachial index (ABI). Methods　A cross-sectional study was conducted to select the subjects who participated in the 2010 and 2018 annual physical examination of Kailuan Group and completed the measurement of arteriosclerosis. Epidemiological data were collected by questionnaire, and total cholesterol, triglyceride, fasting blood glucose, high density lipoprotein cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were detected on the day of physical examination. Both arm systolic blood pressure values and ankle-brachial index (ABI) were collected using the Omron arteriosclerosis detector. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the sIAD and ABI in the total population, different gender and different age groups. Results　A total of 48 976 patients were included in the statistical analysis. In the general population, different gender groups (male group and female group), people of different ages (＜60 years old group and ≥60 years old group), and adjustment for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, three acyl glycerin, total cholesterol, smoking, drinking, exercise, sIAD and ABI values were negatively correlated (P＜0.05). It was found that ABI decreased by 0.006 for every 1 mmHg increase in sIAD in the total population. ABI decreased by 0.006 and 0.005 for every 1 mmHg increase in sIAD in different gender groups (male and female). ABI decreased by 0.006 and 0.005 (＜60 years old group and ≥60 years old group) for every 1 mmHg increase in sIAD in different age groups. Conclusion　sIAD is negatively associated with ABI, and the increased sIAD is a risk factor for ABI decline.

Key words: blood pressure, physical examination, inter-arm difference in systolic blood pressure, ankle brachial index