MEETING ABSTRACT Open Access Blood pressure measurement in children

In pediatric age diagnosis of hypertension is defined using a statistical criterion, the limit being the 95th percentile of the distribution of the blood pressure values, according to gender, age and height [1]. Pre-hypertension is defined as blood pressure (BP) values consistently above or equal to the 90th percentile, but lower than the 95th [Table 1]. The “gold standard” method to measure BP in children is auscultatory, using an aneroid non-mercury manometer (proscribed due to their toxicity). The aneroid devices need to be calibrated every six months. At least three measure-ments performed on different occasions are necessary for the diagnosis of hypertension [2]. Children above 3 years of age should have their blood pressure measured every year. In all children including the youngers ones blood pressure should be measured under special cir-cumstances that increase the risk for hypertension: intensive neonatal care, renal disease, treatment with drugs known to increase blood pressure, evidence of elevated intracranial pressure. The cuff should be of the appropriate size for the children’s upper arm. Small cuffs tend to overestimate while large cuffs underesti-mate. The width of the cuff should be 40 % of the arm circumference at a point midway between the olecra-non and the acromion. The children should be calm and relaxed, seated with their right arm resting at heart level. Systolic blood pressure is defined by the first Korotkoff sound (K1) whereas diastolic blood pressure coincides with the disappearance of the pulse (K5). The use of oscillometric devices is increased in the last years. Despite their large use, only few, reported on the internet sit