The impact of bladder distension on blood pressure in middle aged women.

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relation between the extent of bladder distention and the rise of blood pressure in middle aged women.

Methods: In a cross-sectional, descriptive observational study, we obtained data from 172 middle aged women at a health promotion center of Pusan National University Hospital. We measured duration of urine-holding as the degree of the extension of bladder distention. Blood pressure was measured twice while holding urine and immediately after urination. Urine holding with full bladder was confirmed by abdominal ultrasound.

Results: Difference in systolic blood pressure was 4.2 ± 10.7 (P < 0.001), and that in diastolic blood pressure was 2.8 ± 7.7 mm Hg (P < 0.001) between holding urine and immediately after urination. There was no significant correlation between the urine-holding duration and differences in systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that systolic and diastolic blood pressure is increased by urine-holding at least 3 hours after the last urination in middle aged women. Thus in practice, blood pressure should be measured after the bladder is emptied.