Defining systolic blood pressure normative values in hospitalized pediatric patients: a single center experience

Background Normative blood pressure (BP) values and definition of hypertension (HTN) in children in outpatient setting cannot be reliably used for inpatient therapy initiation. No normative exists to describe HTN in hospitalized pediatric populations. We aimed to study the prevalence of hypertension and produce normative BP values in hospitalized children. Methods Cross sectional observational study of all children hospitalized on acute care floors, ≥2 and <18 years age, at Stanford Children’s Hospital, from Jan-01-2014 to Dec-31-2018. Cohort included 7468 hospital encounters with a total of 118,423 automated, oscillometric, BPs measured in the upper extremity during a hospitalization of >24 hours. Results Overall prevalence of HTN, defined by outpatient guidelines, was 12–48% in boys and 6–39% in girls, stage 1 systolic HTN in 12–38% of boys and 6–31% of girls, stage 2 systolic HTN in 3–10% of boys and 1–8% of girls. Centile curves were derived demonstrating overall higher BP reading for hospitalized patients compared to the outpatient setting. Conclusion Higher blood pressures are anticipated during hospitalization. Thresholds provided by the centile curves generated in this study may provide the clinician with some guidance on how to manage hospitalized pediatric patients based on clinical circumstances. Impact Hospitalized children have higher blood pressures compared to patients in the ambulatory setting, hence outpatient normative blood pressure values cannot be reliably used for inpatient therapy initiation. No normative exists to describe hypertension in hospitalized pediatric populations. The thresholds provided by the centile curves generated in this study may provide the clinician with some guidance on how to manage hospitalized pediatric patients based on clinical circumstances.