What is the relationship between pulse rate, systolic and diastolic pressure?
The relationship between pulse rate, systolic, and diastolic pressures is quite simple, and varies with cardiac output. It is expressible in one simple equation:- Heart rate x (systolic pressure – diastolic pressure) x compliance = Cardiac output. Or, algebraically, HR x (Ps – Pd) x C = CO (C is the compliance of the proximal aorta, HR is in BPM, Ps and Pd are in mms.Hg, and CO is mls/min.). This is a continuous and universal correlationship, and the equation holds under all circumstances and clinical conditions. It may be developed to allow pulse rate at any time to be calculated, from any previous set of BP and pulse readings obtained by a simple home digital monitor.
