Relationship between body mass index and blood pressure elevation during electroconvulsive therapy

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure (BP) elevation during electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).DesignDescriptive epidemiological study.SettingOperating room of a university-affiliated hospital.PatientsAll patients who received ECT at the Tokyo Metropolitan Hiroo Hospital from May 2005 to March 2009.InterventionsAll patients received routine ECT treatment.MeasurementsSystolic BP (SBP) elevation during ECT, BMI, baseline SBP, age, electroencephalographic seizure duration, ECT stimulating dose, diagnosis, and gender were all recorded.Main ResultsPatients with higher BMI tended to have greater SBP elevation after ECT. There was no correlation between elevated SBP and other factors. The degree of elevation of SBP after ECT was linearly related to BMI.ConclusionBMI correlates with BP elevation during ECT.