Pulse rate in childhood: reference limits.
OBJECTIVE
Systematic quantitative resting pulse rate measurements may represent an additional parameter for the study of cardiovascular risk factors in youth as well as in adulthood. The aim of this study was to evaluate resting pulse rate and its distribution curve in order to define reference limits in a sample of adolescents from Turin, Italy.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 2230 children aged 12-18 years, who were randomly enrolled from Turin Junior High Schools. All of the participants underwent pulse rate, blood pressure and height measurements. The 5th and 95th percentiles of the pulse rate in boys and girls are reported by age and height. The pulse rate was higher in the girls, but progressively decreased with age and somatic growth in both genders.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides reference blood pressure values by age, gender and height in a sample of male and female adolescents.
Rabbia
F
F
Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, University of Turin, Italy. centroiperten.torino@libero.it
Calvo
C
C
Leotta
G
G
Grosso
T
T
Morello
F
F
Del Colle
S
S
Caserta
M
M
Bobbio
A
A
Veglio
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011674:Pulse; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics