Blood Pressure Readings in Term Neonates – Normative Values in the 21st Century
Background: Neonatal hypertension is becoming more common, particularly in the neonatal intensive care unit survivor. Up to date normative values are required to assist in diagnosis and appropriate management of neonatal hypotension and hypertension.
Aim: To determine normative blood pressure data in healthy term neonates.
Methods: Healthy term neonates admitted to the postnatal ward were enrolled. Infants of mothers with preeclampsia, essential hypertension, gestational diabetes, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or substance use were excluded. Infants were also excluded if there was a congenital or chromosomal anomaly, admission to the neonatal intensive care unit or possible sepsis. Blood pressure was measured each day until discharge.
Results: 406 infants were enrolled. The mean gestation was 39.6 weeks, mean birthweight 3529 grams and mean length 50 cm. The mean systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures on day one of life were 66, 40 and 48 respectively. The mean systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressures on day three of life were 70, 44 and 52 respectively. The 5th and 95th percentiles for systolic, diastolic and mean pressures were 55 and 83, 31 and 52, and 40 and 61.
Conclusions: These results do not confirm an increase of blood pressure in the past few decades. This study has only looked at well postnatal babies with possible maternal confounders removed. This study has provided normative blood pressure readings of healthy term neonates that can be used to assess both hypotension and hypertension in the term neonate.