Inter-Arm Blood Pressure Differences and Handgrip Strength in Youth Athletes: Implications for Early Cardiovascular Screening

Background: Inter-arm blood pressure difference (IAD) ≥ 10 mmHg is an established marker of cardiovascular risk in adults; however, evidence in paediatric populations remains limited. Handgrip strength (HGS) is increasingly recognized as a simple and reliable indicator of neuromuscular fitness and cardiometabolic health during growth and development. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the association between IAD and HGS in children and adolescent athletes and to explore the influence of anthropometric characteristics. Methods: Forty-one non-professional athletes aged 6–16 years participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric characteristics, bilateral resting BP, and bilateral HGS were assessed using standardized protocols. Inter-arm differences in systolic and diastolic BP were calculated. Results: An inter-arm systolic BP difference ≥ 10 mmHg was observed in 12.2% of participants. Dominant-arm systolic BP and HGS were significantly higher compared with the non-dominant side (p < 0.05). HGS showed a positive association with systolic BP, particularly in boys, whereas weaker associations were observed with diastolic BP. In regression analysis, BMI emerged as a significant predictor of systolic blood pressure. Conclusions: In young athletes, dominant-arm superiority in both muscular strength and systolic BP was evident. Bilateral BP assessment combined with HGS measurement may provide information during cardiovascular evaluation paediatric athletic populations.