Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026
Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness
Published on: May 3, 2018
Pulse pressure predicts mortality in elderly patients
Avraham Weiss1, Mona Boaz, Yichayaou Beloosesky
1Geriatric Ward, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikvah, Israel. avrahamw@clalit.org.il
Background:
Pulse pressure (PP) values increase with age. The impact of PP on mortality in elderly patients has not been established.
Objectives:
To evaluate the effect of PP on mortality among very elderly hospitalized patients.
Design:
A prospective clinical study.
Participants And Measurements:
The medical records of 420 inpatients aged >60 (187 males, mean age of 81.4 +/- 7 years) hospitalized in an acute geriatric ward were reviewed. Patients were followed up for a mean of 3.46 +/- 1.87 years. Mortality data were extracted from death certificates. Using relative operating characteristic (ROC) curves, we identified PP of 62.5 mmHg as a cutoff point. Subjects were categorized as having low PP (< or = 62.5 mmHg; N = 116) or high PP (>62.5 mmHg; N = 304).
Main Results:
The mortality rate was greater in patients with high PP than in those with low PP. During the follow-up, 201 patients died, 155 patients (51%) in the high PP group and 46 patients (39.7%) in the low PP group (p = 0.038). Pulse pressure was associated with all-cause mortality (HR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.19-2.38, p = 0.003) even after controlling for gender, age, diabetes mellitus, atrial fibrillation and heart rate.
Conclusion:
High PP is an independent predictor of mortality among elderly hospitalized patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Blood Pressure
01:30Blood Pressure
The average BP in an adult is typically around 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). In this measurement, the numerator (120) indicates the systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart's ventricles as blood is expelled. The denominator (80) represents the diastolic...
01:17Measurement of Blood Pressure
01:21Sites for measuring blood pressure
The Brachial Artery: Primary Site for Blood Pressure Measurement
01:28Special considerations while measuring blood pressure
Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.
01:16Pulse
The pulse serves as a clinical indicator...