The Ratio of Diastolic and Systolic Arterial Pressure is Associated with Pulse Pressure

Pulse pressure (PP) is defined as the difference between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The metric PP is not unique, as numerous combinations of SBP and DBP yield the same value for PP. Therefore, we introduced the PP companion (PPC) which is calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. Only the combination of PP and PPC offers unique characterization. Interestingly, PPC was found to be associated with mean arterial pressure (MAP). Another mathematical construct frequently used in hemodynamic studies refers to the ratio of DBP and SBP, or DBP/SBP, denoted as Prat. As Prat and PP share the same companion (C), we investigated the association between PratC and MAP, as well as the connection between PP and Prat. Various patient cohorts were included: A) 52 heart failure patients (16 women), B) 88 patients (11 women) with acute cardiac syndromes, C) 257 patients (68 men) diagnosed with atherosclerosis or any of various types of autoimmune disease, and D) 106 hypertensives ( 51 men). Linear regression analysis resulted in the following correlations: A: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.94, R (PP, Prat) = -0.91 B: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.98, R (PP, Prat) = -0.85 C: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.97, R (PP, Prat) = -0.86 D: R (PratC, MAP) = 0.92, R (PP, Prat) = -0.82 We conclude that Prat carries no substantial incremental value beyond PP, while both Prat and PP are incomplete metrics, requiring simultaneous consideration of MAP.