title: Predictive regression equations and clinical uses of peripheral pulse timing characteristics in children.
abstract: Studies have shown that increased arterial stiffening can be an indication of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension. In clinical practice, this can be detected by measuring the blood pressure (BP) using a sphygmomanometer but it cannot be used for prolonged monitoring. It has been established that pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a direct measure of arterial stiffening but its usefulness is hampered by the absence of non-invasive techniques to estimate it. Pulse transit time (PTT) is a simple and non-invasive method derived from PWV. However, limited knowledge of PTT in children is found in the present literature. The aims of this study are to identify independent variables that confound PTT measure and describe PTT regression equations for healthy children. Therefore, PTT reference values are formulated for future pathological studies. Fifty-five Caucasian children (39 male) aged 8.4 +/- 2.3 yr (range 5-12 yr) were recruited. Predictive equations for PTT were obtained by multiple regressions with age, vascular path length, BP indexes and heart rate. These derived equations were compared in their PWV equivalent against two previously reported equations and significant agreement was obtained (p < 0.05). Findings herein also suggested that PTT can be useful as a continuous surrogate BP monitor in children.
authors.affiliation: School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Jong Yong A
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Foo
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Gordon R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coates
authors.forename: Margaret-Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D010092:Oximetry / Q000379:methods*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity