RESUMO
Objective: To establish the normative blood pressure (BP) values in healthy Indian neonates using oscillometric method, and to develop BP percentile charts. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Neonatal unit of a teaching hospital in Eastern India. Participants: 1617 hemodynamically stable inborn neonates without birth asphyxia, major congenital anomaly, maternal complications (e.g. preeclampsia, hypertension, diabetes) or critical neonatal illness. Procedure: Quite state measurements of systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded by oscillometric method on day 4, 7 and 14 of postnatal life. The averages of three readings at 2-minute intervals were used. Results: Percentile charts (providing 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 95th, and 99th percentile values) have been developed. SBP, DBP and MAP showed a steady rise from day 4 to day 14, and were comparable between males and females, but were significantly lower in preterms than in term neonates Conclusions: Normative neonatal BP data along with gestational age-wise percentile charts shall be of help for decision-making and planning for sick newborns.