Blood pressure studies in black children
S. K. Dube, S. Kapoor, H. Ratner and F. L. Tunick
Blood pressure measurements were obtained under office conditions by
auscultatory method, using appropriate cuff sizes, in 1,668 healthy black
children (827 boys and 841 girls) ranging in age from 4 to 17 years. We
found no significant difference between the mean systolic blood pressure of
black children in our study and that of whites as reported in the
literature. However, mean diastolic blood pressure was lower in black
children. Some black children (3.6%) were found to have blood pressure more
than 2 standard deviations above the mean for their age and should be
closely observed for developing hypertensive cardiovascular changes.
