How arm position changes blood pressure readings during pregnancy
Official title: Arm Position and Blood Pressure Measurement Accuracy in Pregnancy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Sheba Medical Center · NCT07405723 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will see if different arm positions (supported at heart level, on the lap, or unsupported at the side) change blood pressure readings in pregnant women attending a high-risk clinic.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 55 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 300 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Sheba Medical Center Government |
| Locations | 1 site (Ramat Gan) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | September 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | April 16, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07405723 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Pregnant women aged 18–55 with a viable singleton or multiple pregnancy who can sit upright and provide informed consent, across any trimester, are eligible including those with or without chronic hypertension.
✕Probably not a fit
People with severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, major fetal anomalies, significant cardiac or renal disease, major upper-limb limitations, or inability to sit or consent are excluded and would not benefit from participation.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is a single-center randomized crossover trial in which pregnant participants undergo multiple blood pressure measurements in one clinic visit with the arm placed in several common positions. The order of arm positions is randomized with stratification by trimester and by chronic hypertension status so each person serves as her own control. Measurements include supported at heart level, supported on the lap, and unsupported at the side, with repeat sets to account for natural variability. The goal is to quantify how much arm position shifts readings and whether that could affect clinical classification of blood pressure in pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could improve measurement practice so blood pressure is recorded more accurately, reducing misclassification and unnecessary treatment or missed diagnoses in pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in nonpregnant adults and smaller pregnancy cohorts has shown arm position can change blood pressure readings, but randomized crossover data specifically across all trimesters of pregnancy are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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
Where it's running
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Sheba Medical Center
Ramat Gan, Israel Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Michal Axelrod, MD MPH
- Email: michalaxelrod2805@gmail.com
- Phone: +97235302697
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.