The range of blood pressures in Australian children

Blood pressure, height and weight were measured in 9851 Australian schoolchildren selected at random in three age groups - 5-7, 8-10 and 11-13 years. It was found that the median values of systolic and of diastolic blood pressures rose with age. However, the effect of age virtually disappeared when pressures were corrected for the effect of weight and Quetelet index (weight/height) which suggested that blood pressure is related to size rather than to age; obesity also seemed to have an individual effect. These data do not determine the level of blood pressure in a child at which treatment is indicated, but provide standard ranges to be used in clinical assessment and as the basis for further epidemiological studies.