Table for recording blood pressure?

[YNWA]

Hi, as some may have seen I have a diabetes database in progress.

I have my measurement fields on a form, weight, BMI etc... which are all recorded using figures such as 175. 25.1 etc... fairly easy to compare with each other and run calcualtions off.

However one of those fields is Blood Pressure, and obviously is not recorded in a straight forward mannor as its recorded like 120/90 (120 over 90). This is a distolic and systolic readings which the clinican will then decide if its too high or low.

So how would I store this info and calculate it to give me say a percentage between the first visit and last visit?

I thought of 2 fields, one systolic and one diastolic, recorded individually on a form.

But how can I compare a percentage change on something that 120/90 could be good but 150/90 is bad, how can I compare those figures with each other and get something back?

I thought of comparing both sys and dia but then again if sys goes up and dia goes down, that might not be good or bad.

Peopel get what I mean and am looking for here?

Cheers, sorry if I have hurt your head after that.

 

[KenHigg]

You can either store each pc in seperate fields or force them into a parsable format in one field using an input mask.

 

[YNWA]

Cheers mate, I will prob store in seperate fields as there seperate readings.

My main problem is how to measure the difference between 2 readings.

Weight is easy 100lbs first appointment - 200lbs last appointment, gain of 100lbs or 100% increase.

Blood pressure however, I aint got a clue how to measure it.

First reading 120 / 90, last reading 165 / 80. What is the increase/decrease on that, is it good sign or bad sign etc...?

Understand what I mean?

Cheers
Will

 

[KenHigg]

If you are measuring this across records then I would chart each value on a line chart. Anything (qualified) trending down or stable at a healthy level would be good. (Right?)

 

[gemma-the-husky]

store two separate fields in a single table - then its easy to work out the ratio etc.

the readings are actually different values of different things.


I cant think you would ever need to compare systolics with diastolics over a whole population

-----------
YNWA:

I believe one of these (the lower value?) is much more important clinically

Its your database - you must know what you want to do with the data!


I would think though, if you were graphing this you would use two lines one for each reading, showing the trend for both

 

[ChrisO]

I have something along those lines, please see attached.

There’s some real sample data in it and I suffer from low blood pressure.
(53/40 and still got the reading. )

Anyway, you can make a copy of it and then empty the table and start again.
I normally just print out a screen dump when I go see the quack.

Good luck.

 

[YNWA]

Cheers everyone.

Gems, I am designing the DB, and have meeting with Diabetes lead in a few fews, but the BP issue is something I just clicked onto.

I will stores in one table but seperate fields.

I was told that they want to know the increase/decrease % between first and last contact, which is fairly straight forward for everything apart from BP.

I'l ask clinicans what they think is best.

I was thinking of mapping the results to some sort of table to show a "Poor", "Good", "Moderate" type of rating.

Anyone else has a view on how best to pull measurements off this?

 

[gemma-the-husky]

why is blood pressure any different to the weights - the same code you used for the weights, will give the blood pressure as well surely?

its then just a matter of you/your clients defining how to calculate the relationship between 2 blood pressure readings.

 

[MarkK]

Cool charting ChrisO. But 53/40? Wow that's low.

 

[YNWA]

why is blood pressure any different to the weights - the same code you used for the weights, will give the blood pressure as well surely?

its then just a matter of you/your clients defining how to calculate the relationship between 2 blood pressure readings.

Because if their readings are

100/80, then last contact they are 120/60, what is the percentage increase/decrease overall?

I know first reading increased by 20% and last reading decreased by 33% (I think), but what is the overall reading? Did it go up or down in a good or bad way?

 

[gemma-the-husky]

what i meant was ...

if you are designing this for your own use, or for a client - you MUST have your thoughts on what this calculation means/implies. How can we tell you that?

but its not like directly comparing an absolute value. in some respects, its more like asking - whats the percentage difference between an apple and a pear

 

[sibemol]

You can try by using the Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) which is calculated based on Sistolic and Diastolic... This would give you the "one" value you are looking for and then you could calculate the percentage increase.

MAP= [(2 x DP) + SP] / 3

Where DP= Diastolic Pressure, SP= Sistolic Pressure.

Cheers.

Edit: Could someone help us on how to add a field that would run a formula such above? Thanks