[Estimation of blood pressure in children using a regression equation]

Blood pressure was determined at the Instituto de Educação do Rio de Janeiro in apparently normal school children, aged 5 to 12 years. Among the 2045 school children, 12 were considered unfit for the study as they presented symptoms of illnesses which could affect the results. The total number was, then, reduced to 2033 children--689 boys and 1344 girls. The blood pressure was measured by auscultatory method of the right arm with children lying supine. A mercury manometer and cuffs of adequate sizes were used. A record of pulse rate, weight and height was also obtained. Normal maximum limits of blood pressure was established according to the 95th percentile. The correlations of weight, height and blood pressure were determined and a regression equation could be elaborated; thus, one can obtain an estimated blood pressure from a child's weight and height.