Oscillometric blood pressure values in infants at 3, 6 and 12 months of age: a cohort study
Elin Ørbeck Vallevik, Mads Nikolaj Holten-Andersen, Karin C Lødrup Carlsen, Håvard Ove Skjerven, Riyas Vettukattil, Corina Silvia Rueegg, Eva Maria Rehbinder, Björn Nordlund, Cilla Söderhäll, Gunilla Hedlin, Guttorm Nils Haugen, Anne Cathrine Staff, Morten Nilsen, Henrik HolmstrømObjective
To determine reference blood pressure (BP) values in a cohort of healthy infants at 3, 6 and 12 months of age.
Design
An antenatally recruited population-based mother–child cohort study.
Setting
The multicentre Preventing Atopic Dermatitis and ALLergies in children study, recruiting non-selected pregnant women in Norway and Sweden between 2014 and 2016. Infant oscillometric BP was measured at clinical follow-up visits at 3, 6 and 12 months of age.
Patients
In total, 2100 infants had BP readings available during infancy.
Main outcome measures
Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial BP at each follow-up visit based on successful BP measurements defined as three readings obtained in a calm state with systolic BP within a 20 mm Hg range.
Results
Successful BP measurements were obtained in 1778 infants at 3, 6 and/or 12 months of age. Median systolic/diastolic BP (mean arterial pressure) was 95/56 (69) mm Hg at age 3 months, 96/57 (72) mm Hg at 6 months and 95/57 (71) mm Hg at 12 months.
Conclusions
This study establishes reference values for oscillometric BP in healthy infants and shows consistent measurements across 3, 6 and 12 months of age.