Enter the child’s measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure plus height to calculate blood-pressure-to-height ratios (BPHR) and get a screening flag for possible elevated blood pressure. This tool does not estimate blood pressure from height and weight alone.
Who this calculator is for (limitations)
This calculator uses blood-pressure-to-height ratio (BPHR) cutoffs from a published research method and is intended only as a quick screening aid for children/adolescents. It is not the standard diagnostic approach used in major pediatric guidance (which classifies BP using repeat measurements and age/sex/height percentiles, and different thresholds for adolescents). BPHR performance can vary by age and population; for study details, search PubMed for the Galescu et al. BPHR paper (2012).
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Blood Pressure-to-Height Ratio (BPHR) Formula
The following formulas are used to calculate blood-pressure-to-height ratios. They require a measured blood pressure (they do not calculate blood pressure from height/weight).
SBPHR = SBP / H (cm) DBPHR = DBP / H (cm)
Variables:
- SBPHR is the systolic blood-pressure-to-height ratio (mmHg/cm)
- DBPHR is the diastolic blood-pressure-to-height ratio (mmHg/cm)
- SBP is the systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
- DBP is the diastolic blood pressure (mmHg)
- H is the height (cm)
What is a Blood Pressure-to-Height Ratio (BPHR)?
A blood pressure-to-height ratio (BPHR) is a screening index used mainly in children and adolescents. It divides a measured blood pressure value (systolic or diastolic) by height (in centimeters). Because children’s normal blood pressure varies with body size, BPHR can be used as a quick screen for possible elevated blood pressure. It does not replace proper pediatric blood pressure assessment (including repeat measurements and age/sex/height percentiles). Body weight can influence blood pressure risk, but weight is not part of the BPHR calculation.
How to Calculate Blood Pressure-to-Height Ratio (BPHR)
The following steps outline how to calculate the blood pressure-to-height ratios.
- Measure systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), typically in mmHg.
- Measure height in centimeters (cm).
- If needed, convert units so BP is in mmHg and height is in cm (the standard BPHR cutoffs assume these units).
- Calculate SBPHR = SBP / H and DBPHR = DBP / H.
- Compare the ratios to screening cutoffs (the calculator applies the Galescu et al. (2012) cutoffs shown in the result).
- If the screen is flagged, re-check the measurement using proper technique and follow up with a healthcare professional for diagnostic evaluation.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Systolic BP (SBP) = 105 mmHg
Diastolic BP (DBP) = 65 mmHg; Height (H) = 150 cm; Sex = Boy
