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Oscillometric blood pressure standards for children.
M K Park1, S W Menard, J Schoolfield
1Department of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Driscoll Children's Hospital, Corpus Christi, TX, USA. drmpark@satx.rr.com
Pediatric Cardiology
|September 10, 2005
Summary
New blood pressure (BP) standards for the Dinamap device were created for children aged 5-17. These Dinamap-specific BP standards found no justification for using age and height percentiles.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Previous reports indicated Dinamap (DIN) (Model 8100) blood pressure (BP) readings were significantly higher than auscultatory methods, deeming them non-interchangeable.
- Establishing accurate BP measurement standards is crucial for pediatric health monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate normative DIN BP standards for schoolchildren aged 5 to 17.
- To evaluate the rationale for presenting BP standards based on age and height percentiles.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed DIN BP data from 7208 schoolchildren (ages 5-17).
- Took three BP measurements in a sitting position using a BP cuff width of 40%-50% of arm circumference.
- Examined correlations between systolic pressure (SP) and weight, height, and age.
Main Results:
- Found significant differences in systolic pressures (SP) between boys and girls aged 13-17.
- Identified weight as the strongest predictor of SP (r=0.595), followed by height (r=0.560) and age (r=0.518).
- Determined height is not an important independent predictor of BP levels when adjusted for age and weight.
Conclusions:
- Developed Dinamap-specific BP standards aligned with current national committee guidelines.
- Concluded there is no rational basis for presenting BP standards according to age and height percentiles.