When an older patient has a widened pulse pressure, which statement is most accurate?

When an older patient has a widened pulse pressure, which statement is most accurate?

• A. There is a widening pulse pressure
• B. Both systolic and diastolic pressures are decreased
• C. Blood pressure readings become more consistent
• D. The diastolic pressure rises to normal levels

Answer: (A)

Arterial stiffness from aging tends to widen the gap between systolic and diastolic pressures. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic numbers, so when the systolic pressure rises (common with reduced arterial compliance) and the diastolic pressure doesn’t rise proportionally, the pulse pressure becomes larger. That makes a widened pulse pressure the most accurate statement for an older patient. The other ideas don’t fit this pattern: if both systolic and diastolic pressures dropped, the gap wouldn’t widen; if diastolic pressure rose to normal levels, the gap would typically narrow rather than widen; and blood pressure readings being more consistent isn’t about the size of the pulse pressure.

Arterial stiffness from aging tends to widen the gap between systolic and diastolic pressures. Pulse pressure is the difference between systolic and diastolic numbers, so when the systolic pressure rises (common with reduced arterial compliance) and the diastolic pressure doesn’t rise proportionally, the pulse pressure becomes larger. That makes a widened pulse pressure the most accurate statement for an older patient.

The other ideas don’t fit this pattern: if both systolic and diastolic pressures dropped, the gap wouldn’t widen; if diastolic pressure rose to normal levels, the gap would typically narrow rather than widen; and blood pressure readings being more consistent isn’t about the size of the pulse pressure.