Age-based centiles for diastolic blood pressure among children in the out-of-hospital emergency setting.

PALS criteria for DBP classified a high proportion of children as having abnormal vital signs, particularly with diastolic hypertension. Empirically derived DBP thresholds more accurately predict the delivery of key out-of-hospital interventions. If externally validated, correlated to in-hospital outcomes, and combined with thresholds for other vital signs, these may better predict the need for out-of-hospital interventions.