Archives of disease in childhood
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Observational Study
Association between hypotension and serious illness in the emergency department: an observational study.
The value of routine blood pressure measurement in the emergency department (ED) is unclear. ⋯ Hypotension, adjusted for tachycardia, is associated with serious illness, although its sensitivity is limited. Shock index showed an association with serious illness, but no acceptable cut-off value could be identified. Routine BP measurement in all children to detect hypotension has limited value in the ED. Future studies need to confirm which patients could benefit from BP measurement.