Key Points
- To evaluate blood pressure patterns and reference distributions from childhood to young adulthood as potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
- Assessed blood pressure in 2,500 individuals aged 9 to 24 years during a 1986 follow-up in the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns.
- Measured values using a random zero sphygmomanometer, recording systolic pressure and diastolic pressure using Korotkoff 4th and 5th phases.
- Mean systolic blood pressure in girls rose from 102 mmHg (95th percentile: 119 mmHg) at age 9 to 116 mmHg (95th percentile: 138 mmHg) at age 24.
- Mean systolic blood pressure in boys rose from 102 mmHg (95th percentile: 121 mmHg) at age 9 to 128 mmHg (95th percentile: 148 mmHg) at age 24.
- Diastolic blood pressure was more reliably measurable using Korotkoff's 5th phase than the 4th phase across age cohorts.
Structured PICO
PPopulation2500 individuals aged nine to 24 years from the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns
OOutcomeBlood pressure values (systolic and diastolic)surrogate
The study provides normal blood pressure value curves for children and young adults, noting that blood pressure increases with age and physical size.
Limitations
- Differences in methods used to measure blood pressure compared to other series prevent reliable comparison