Normative oscillometric blood pressure values in the first 5 years in an office setting
M. K. Park and S. M. Menard
Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284.
We measured blood pressure (BP) and heart rate in 1554 healthy infants and
children aged 2 weeks to 5 years using an oscillometric device, to
establish normative values in this age group. The BP cuff width was
selected to be 40% to 50% of the circumference of the upper arm. Triplicate
measurements of BP and heart rate were obtained in the waiting room of
pediatricians' offices and well-baby clinics before the patients were
examined by the physician or nurse. Three readings were possible in 87% of
the infants less than 3 years of age and in all children 3 years of age and
older. The average BP value (systolic/diastolic [mean]) increased rapidly
from the 2- to 3-week value of 78/47 (59) mm Hg to the 1- to 5-month value
of 95/60 (74) mm Hg. No subsequent increase in BP occurred until 2 years of
age (96/56 [71] mm Hg) when systolic and mean pressures started to increase
at an average annual rate of 2 mm Hg for systolic pressure and 1 mm Hg for
mean pressure until reaching the 5-year value of 104/58 (75) mm Hg.
Diastolic pressure did not increase from 1 month to 5 years of age. Heart
rate decreased with increasing age from the 2- to 3-week value of 153 to
the 5-year value of 97 beats per minute. There was no difference in BP and
heart rate values between boys and girls or among ethnic groups over the
age ranges studied. Considering the high success rate in obtaining BPs in
infants and small children, it appears that BP should be determined
routinely, regardless of the age of the patients, when an oscillometric
device is available.
