The relationship of pulse pressure and diastolic pressure to systolic pressure in healthy subjects, 20–94 years of age

• Published in: The American heart journal Vol. 70; no. 2; pp. 163 - 171
• Main Authors: Master, Arthur M., Lasser, Richard P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Mosby, Inc 01.08.1965
• Subjects: Aging; Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure Determination; Geriatrics; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Old Medline; Sex; AGING; BLOOD PRESSURE; BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION; GERIATRICS; SEX
• ISSN: 0002-8703; 1097-6744
• DOI: 10.1016/0002-8703(65)90063-3

The relationship of systolic pressure to diastolic pressure and pulse pressure has been studied in more than 20,000 apparently healthy subjects ranging in age from 20 to 94 years, for the purpose of developing quantitative standards of normal pulse pressure throughout the range of blood pressure. Diastolic pressure and pulse pressure were found to vary linearly with the systolic pressure, and regression equations expressing this relationship have been presented. No significant sex difference was found. However, in both sexes, advancing age resulted in a widening of the pulse pressure and related lowering of the diastolic pressure at all levels of systolic pressure. Thus, at ages 20–64 years, diastolic pressure increases about 4 mm.Hg and pulse pressure widens by 6 mm.Hg for each 10-mm.Hg rise in systolic pressure, whereas at ages 65–94 years, diastolic pressure increases 3 mm.Hg and pulse pressure widens by 7 mm.Hg for a comparable change in systolic pressure. Hence, the pulse pressure virtually quadruples when systolic pressure increases from 90 to 220 mm.Hg. Limits of normal variation have been presented. These quantitative standards should prove to be useful in the evaluation of cardiovascular diseases or hemodynamic abnormalities which affect the pulse pressure.