Variables affecting children's blood pressures

The blood pressures of fifty hospitalized school age children were measured at interval to determine if the variables age, weight, sex, and the passage of time between readings have a significant effect on the systolic and diastolic blood pressures and the pulse pressure. The variables age, weight, and quadratic change over time were found to be significant factors, while six, sex by time, and linear change over time were not. The results show that diastolic values remain at relatively constant level during the ages five to eleven years. Children's blood pressure values seem to be subject to diurnal fluctuations that should be considered when establishing limits of normalcy or when interpreting clinical values.