Reference values for clinic pulse pressure in a nonselected population.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Hypertension Research
• Public Health

Background:

• Wide pulse pressure (PP) is increasingly recognized as an independent predictor of cardiovascular events.
• Establishing accurate reference values for clinic PP is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine age- and gender-specific reference values for brachial clinic pulse pressure (PP) in a large, nonselected population.
• To identify diagnostic thresholds for elevated clinic PP associated with cardiovascular risk.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of brachial clinic PP measurements from 61,724 subjects undergoing routine health examinations.
• Statistical assessment of mean values, standard deviations, and percentiles to establish reference ranges.
• Comparison of derived thresholds with previously reported risk-associated PP values.

Main Results:

• The mean reference value for clinic PP was determined to be approximately 50 mm Hg for both men and women.
• Diagnostic thresholds for elevated clinic PP (> or =65 mm Hg) were identified using 2 SD above the mean and 95th percentile methods.
• These thresholds align closely with previously identified PP levels linked to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Conclusions:

• A brachial clinic PP of 50 mm Hg is proposed as a reference value for adults.
• Clinic PP values of 65 mm Hg or higher may indicate increased cardiovascular risk.
• These findings support the use of clinic PP in routine health examinations for cardiovascular risk assessment.