Normative blood pressure and heart rate in pediatric spinal cord injury

Background: Cardiovascular measures in children with spinal cord injury (SCI) may vary depending on the child's age and physical development in addition to injury-related factors. Developmental changes should be considered when addressing cardiovascular complications in this population. Objectives: To determine baseline blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) measurements in youth with SCI, and to investigate differences in BP and HR in relation to age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and injury-related factors. Methods: Retrospective chart review was conducted for youth under 19 years who had been admitted for rehabilitation at 1 of 2 pediatric SCI programs. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures and HR were collected in the morning and afternoon on 3 consecutive days. Mean SBP, DBP, and HR were compared among 4 age groups (0-5 years, 6-12 years, 13-15 years, and 16-18 years) and by gender. Diurnal variations were determined according to level and severity of injury. Associations with BMI and injury-related factors were examined. Charts of 315 youths were reviewed: mean age was 12.3 years, 59% were male, 75% were Caucasian, 62% had complete injury, and 66% had paraplegia. Results: With increasing age, SBP and DBP increased and HR decreased. SBP and DBP were positively correlated with BMI. SBP was higher in males, those with incomplete injury, and those with paraplegia. HR was higher in females. There was no association between cardiovascular measures and injury duration. Conclusion: BP and HR are a function of age, BMI, and completeness and level of injury in youth with SCI. Awareness of baseline measures will allow for more effective management of cardiovascular complications, especially in youth presenting with atypical symptoms.