Reference values for clinic pulse pressure in a nonselected population

A wide pulse pressure (PP) may constitute an independent predictor of cardi ovascular morbidity and mortality. We assessed the reference values of brac hial clinic PP, according to age and gender in a nonselected population (61 ,724 subjects) who were undergoing a routine systematic health examination. According to mean values, 50 mm Hg is likely the reference value for clini c PP in both men and women. Diagnostic thresholds for clinic PP (greater th an or equal to 65 mil Hg) determined either by adding 2 SD to the means or from the 95th percentiles are in close agreement with clinic PP values prev iously reported to be associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity an d mortality. (C) 2001 American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd.