Normal oscillometric blood pressure values in Chinese children during their first six years.

Abstract

To establish normal blood pressure values, values of the upper arm blood pressure, heart rate, body weight, body length and thickness of skin fold over the deltoid area were measured in 3937 healthy children aged 1 day to 6 years. The cuff to measure the blood pressure was selected to cover a two-thirds length of the upper arm. Triple measurements of blood pressure and heart rate were obtained from infants younger than one year of age by an oscillometric device at supine position and in a quiet situation and at a sitting position from children older than one year. The average of blood pressure values (systolic/diastolic/mean) increased rapidly from 62.1/39.7/47.2 mmHg at age day one up to 72.7/46.9/56.6 mmHg at one week of life and up to 85.0/47.4/56.0 mmHg at age two months. After that, the blood pressure value (systolic/diastolic/mean) increased gradually with age. Blood pressure values (systolic/diastolic/mean) increased rapidly from 68.0/43.7/53.1 mmHg in children weighing less than 5 kg up to 87.6/41.8/59.8 mmHg in those weighing 5 to 10 kg; then values increased gradually with body weight. There were no significant differences in blood pressure and heart rate between boys and girls with different ages, different body lengths or different body weights.