Mean Arterial Pressure Calculation Method
Disease description:
Recently, I have been feeling a bit unwell. After undergoing an examination, I was diagnosed with hypertension. Could you please explain how to calculate the average blood pressure?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Tian Hongbo
Mean arterial pressure (MAP) is an important parameter for assessing the status of the circulatory system. In clinical practice, blood pressure measurement usually includes systolic blood pressure (SBP, the higher number) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP, the lower number). MAP provides additional valuable information based on the values of SBP and DBP.
The formula for calculating mean arterial pressure is: MAP = (SBP + 2 × DBP) ÷ 3. This formula is based on the area principle of the pulse waveform, meaning the integral of arterial pressure over time during a cardiac cycle divided by the duration of the cardiac cycle.
In simple terms, mean arterial pressure more comprehensively reflects the balance between cardiac output per beat and peripheral vascular resistance. It serves as an important reference in guiding clinical treatment, particularly in fluid management and medication adjustment for critically ill patients. For example, if a person has a systolic pressure of 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg, their mean arterial pressure would be (120 + 2 × 80) ÷ 3 = 100 mmHg.
