Pulse Pressure is Sex-Specifically Associated with the Ratio of Diastolic and Systolic Arterial Pressure in Healthy Children, and Differently During Night Versus Daytime Recordings

Noninvasive blood pressure recordings typically focus on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic pressure (DBP). Derived metrics are often analyzed, e.g. pulse pressure (PP), defined as SBP minus DBP. As the metric PP is not unique, we introduced the PP companion (PPC), calculated using the Pythagorean theorem. PPC is associated with mean arterial pressure (MAP). Another mathematical construct frequently used in hemodynamic studies refers to the ratio of DBP and SBP, denoted as Prat. PP and Prat share the same companion (C). The association between PratC and MAP, as well as the connection between PP and Prat has not been studied in healthy children. We analyzed a large set of daytime (DT) and nighttime (NT) data (N=949, age 5 to 16 years, including 485 girls), published in the literature. Average PP increases with age (in 0.5 year increments), while Prat decreases. Prat vs PP yields R-2>0.985 for both DT and NT data, when stratified for boys and girls. PPC is significantly lower (P<0.0001) during the night for both sexes. We conclude that Prat carries no substantial incremental value beyond PP, in contrast to PPC which points to DT/NT, agedependent and sex-specific differences in these children.