For other uses, see Vital signs (disambiguation).
Vital signs (often shortened to just vitals) are a group of the 4 to 6 most important signs that indicate the status of the body’s vital (life-sustaining) functions. These measurements are taken to help assess the general physical health of a person, give clues to possible diseases, and show progress toward recovery.[1][2] The normal ranges for a person’s vital signs vary with age, weight, gender, and overall health.[3]
There are four primary vital signs: body temperature, blood pressure, pulse (heart rate), and breathing rate (respiratory rate), often notated as BT, BP, HR, and RR. However, depending on the clinical setting, the vital signs may include other measurements called the "fifth vital sign" or "sixth vital sign". Vital signs are recorded using the LOINC internationally accepted standard coding system.[4][5]
Early warning scores have been proposed that combine the individual values of vital signs into a single score. This was done in recognition that deteriorating vital signs often precede cardiac arrest and/or admission to the intensive care unit. Used appropriately, a rapid response team can assess and treat a deteriorating patient and prevent adverse outcomes.[6][7][8]
Contents
- 1 Primary vital signs
- 1.1 Temperature
- 1.2 Pulse
- 1.3 Respiratory rate
- 1.4 Blood pressure
- 2 Additional signs
- 2.1 Fifth vital signs
- 2.2 Sixth vital signs
- 3 Variations by age
- 4 Monitoring
- 5 See also
- 6 References
Primary vital signs
There are four primary vital signs which are standard in most medical settings:
- Body temperature
- Heart Rate or Pulse
- Respiratory rate
- Blood pressure
The equipment needed is a thermometer, a sphygmomanometer, and a watch. Though a pulse can be taken by hand, a stethoscope may be required for a patient with a very weak pulse.
Temperature
Temperature recording gives an indication of core body temperature which is normally tightly controlled (thermoregulation) as it affects the rate of chemical reactions.
Temperature can be recorded in order to establish a baseline for the individual's normal body temperature for the site and measuring conditions. The main reason for checking body temperature is to solicit any signs of systemic infection or inflammation in the presence of a fever (temp > 38.5 °C/101.3 °F or sustained temp > 38 °C/100.4 °F), or elevated significantly above the individual's normal temperature. Other causes of elevated temperature include hyperthermia.
Temperature depression (hypothermia) also needs to be evaluated. It is also noteworthy to review the trend of the patient's temperature. A patient with a fever of 38 °C does not necessarily indicate an ominous sign if his previous temperature has been higher. Body temperature is maintained through a balance of the heat produced by the body and the heat lost from the body.
Temperature is commonly considered to be a vital sign most notably in a hospital setting. EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians), in particular, are taught to measure the vital signs of: respiration, pulse, skin, pupils, and blood pressure as "the 5 vital signs" in a non-hospital setting.[9]
Pulse
Main article: Pulse
The pulse or heart rate is the rate at which the heart beats while pumping blood through the arteries. Its rate is usually measured either at the wrist or the ankle and is recorded as beats per minute. The pulse commonly taken is from the radial artery at the wrist. Sometimes the pulse cannot be taken at the wrist and is taken at the elbow (brachial artery), at the neck against the carotid artery (carotid pulse), behind the knee (popliteal artery), or in the foot dorsalis pedis or posterior tibial arteries. The pulse rate can also be measured by listening directly to the heartbeat using a stethoscope. The pulse varies with age. A newborn or infant can have a heart rate of about 130–150 beats per minute. A toddler's heart will beat about 100–120 times per minute, an older child's heartbeat is around 60–100 beats per minute, adolescents around 80–100 beats per minute, and adults' pulse rate is anywhere between 50 and 80 beats per minute.
Respiratory rate
Main article: Respiratory rate
Varies with age, but the normal reference range for an adult is 16–20 breaths/minute (RCP 2012). The value of respiratory rate as an indicator of potential respiratory dysfunction has been investigated but findings suggest it is of limited value. Respiratory rate is a clear indicator of acidotic states, as the main function of respiration is removal of CO2 leaving bicarbonate base in circulation.
Blood pressure
Main article: Blood pressure § Measurement
The blood pressure is recorded as two readings: a high systolic pressure, which occurs during the maximal contraction of the heart, and the lower diastolic or resting pressure. A normal blood pressure would be 120 being the systolic over 80, the diastolic. Usually the blood pressure is read from the left arm unless there is some damage to the arm. The difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure is called the pulse pressure. The measurement of these pressures is now usually done with an aneroid or electronic sphygmomanometer. The classic measurement device is a mercury sphygmomanometer, using a column of mercury measured off in millimeters. In the United States and UK, the common form is millimeters of mercury, whilst elsewhere SI units of pressure are used. There is no natural 'normal' value for blood pressure, but rather a range of values that on increasing are associated with increased risks. The guideline acceptable reading also takes into account other co-factors for disease. Therefore, elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is variously defined when the systolic number is persistently over 140–160 mmHg. Low blood pressure is hypotension. Blood pressures are also taken at other portions of the extremities. These pressures are called segmental blood pressures and are used to evaluate blockage or arterial occlusion in a limb (see Ankle brachial pressure index).
Additional signs
In the U.S., in addition to the above four, many providers are required or encouraged by government technology-in-medicine laws to record the patient's height, weight, and body mass index.[10] Unlike the traditional vital signs, these measurements are not useful for assessing acute changes in state because of the rate at which they change; however, they are useful for assessing the impact of prolonged illness or chronic health problems.
Fifth vital signs
The "fifth vital sign" may refer to a few different parameters.
- Pain is considered a standard fifth vital sign in some organizations such as the U.S. Veterans Affairs.[11] Pain is measured on a pain scale based on subjective patient reporting and may be unreliable.[12] Some studies show that recording pain routinely may not change management.[13][14][15] Other "fifth vital signs" include:
- Menstrual cycle [16][17]
- Glasgow Coma Scale [18]
- Pulse Oximetry [19][20][21]
- Blood Glucose level [22]
Sixth vital signs
There is no standard "sixth vital sign"; its use is more informal and discipline-dependent than the above.
- End-tidal CO2.[23][18]
- Functional status[24]
- Shortness of breath[25]
- Gait speed[26]
Variations by age
Reference ranges for blood pressure
| Stage |
Approximate age |
Systolic |
Diastolic |
| Range |
Typical example |
Range |
Typical example |
| Infants |
1 to 12 months |
75-100[27] |
85 |
50–70[27] |
60 |
| Toddlers |
1 to 4 years |
80-110[27] |
95 |
50–80[27] |
65 |
| Preschoolers |
3 to 5 years |
80-110[27] |
95 |
50–80[27] |
65 |
| School age |
6 to 13 years |
85-120[27] |
100 |
55–80[27] |
65 |
| Adolescents |
13 to 18 years |
95-140[27] |
115 |
60–90[27] |
75 |
Children and infants have respiratory and heart rates that are faster than those of adults as shown in the following table:
| Age |
Normal heart rate
(beats per minute) |
Normal respiratory rate
(breaths per minute) |
| Range[28] |
Typical example |
Range[29] |
Typical example |
| Newborn |
100–160[30] |
130 |
30–50 |
40 |
| 0–5 months |
90–150 |
120 |
25–40 |
30 |
| 6–12 months |
80–140 |
110 |
20–30 |
25 |
| 1–3 years |
80–130 |
105 |
20–30 |
25 |
| 3–5 years |
80–120 |
100 |
20–30 |
25 |
| 6–10 years |
70–110 |
90 |
15–30 |
20 |
| 11–14 years |
60–105 |
80 |
12–20 |
16 |
| 15–20 years |
60–100 |
80 |
12–30 |
20 |
Monitoring
An anesthetic machine with integrated systems for monitoring of several vital parameters, including blood pressure and heart rate.
Monitoring of vital parameters most commonly include at least blood pressure and heart rate, and preferably also pulse oximetry and respiratory rate. Multimodal monitors that simultaneously measure and display the relevant vital parameters are commonly integrated into the bedside monitors in critical care units, and the anesthetic machines in operating rooms. These allow for continuous monitoring of a patient, with medical staff being continuously informed of the changes in general condition of a patient.
While monitoring has traditionally been done by doctors, a number of companies are developing devices which can be used by consumers themselves. These include Scanadu and Azoi.
See also
References
- ^ "Vital Signs".
- ^ http://www.emergencycareforyou.org/VitalCareMagazine/ER101/Default.aspx?id=500
- ^ "Vital Signs Table - ProHealthSys".
- ^ "Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes".
- ^ "LOINC - A Lingua Franca Critical for Electronic Medical Records and Health Information Exchange".
- ^ National Early Warning Score Development and Implementation Group (NEWSDIG) (2012). National Early Warning Score (NEWS): standardising the assessment of acute-illness severity in the NHS. London: Royal College of Physicians. ISBN 978-1-86016-471-2.
- ^ National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Clinical guideline 50: Acutely ill patients in hospital. London, 2007.
- ^ "Acute care toolkit 6: the medical patient at risk: recognition and care of the seriously ill or deteriorating medical patient" (PDF). Royal College of Physicians of London. May 2013.
- ^ Emergency Care, 11th edition, pp. 226–244.
- ^ "What should I include when I record vital signs of my patients for MU? - Providers & Professionals - HealthIT.gov".
- ^ http://www.va.gov/painmanagement/docs/toolkit.pdf
- ^ Lorenz, Karl A.; Sherbourne, Cathy D.; Shugarman, Lisa R.; Rubenstein, Lisa V.; Wen, Li; Cohen, Angela; Goebel, Joy R.; Hagenmeier, Emily; Simon, Barbara; Lanto, Andy; Asch, Steven M. (1 May 2009). "How Reliable is Pain as the Fifth Vital Sign?". J Am Board Fam Med. 22 (3): 291–298. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2009.03.080162. PMID 19429735 – via www.jabfm.org.
- ^ "Tips From Other Journals - American Family Physician".
- ^ Mularski RA, White-Chu F, Overbay D, Miller L, Asch SM, Ganzini L (2006). "Measuring pain as the 5th vital sign does not improve quality of pain management". J Gen Intern Med. 21: 607–12. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2006.00415.x. PMC 1924634. PMID 16808744.
- ^ http://www.pain-initiative-un.org/doc-center/en/docs/The%20Fifth%20Vital%20Sign%20Implementation.pdf
- ^ American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2015). "Menstruation in girls and adolescents: using the menstrual cycle as a vital sign. Committee Opinion No. 651". Obstet Gynecol. 126: 143–6.
- ^ American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Adolescence, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Committee on Adolescent Health Care. (2006). "Menstruation in Girls and Adolescents: Using the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign". Pediatrics. 118 (5).
- ^ a b Holcomb JB, Salinas J, McManus JM, Miller CC, Cooke WH, Convertino VA (2005). "Manual vital signs reliably predict need for life-saving interventions in trauma patients". J Trauma. 59: 821–8; discussion 828–9. doi:10.1097/01.ta.0000188125.44129.7c. PMID 16374268.
- ^ Mower W, Myers G, Nicklin E, Kearin K, Baraff L, Sachs C (1998). "Pulse oximetry as a fifth vital sign in emergency geriatric assessment". Acad Emerg Med. 5 (9): 858–65. doi:10.1111/j.1553-2712.1998.tb02813.x. PMID 9754497.
- ^ Mower W, Sachs C, Nicklin E, Baraff L (1997). "Pulse oximetry as a fifth pediatric vital sign". Pediatrics. 99 (5): 681–6. doi:10.1542/peds.99.5.681. PMID 9113944.
- ^ Neff T (1988). "Routine oximetry. A fifth vital sign?". Chest. 94 (2): 227. doi:10.1378/chest.94.2.227a. PMID 3396392.
- ^ "Mining Vital Signs from Wearable Healthcare Device via Nonlinear Machine Learning". University of Hull. Retrieved 2016-05-14.
- ^ Vardi A, Levin I, Paret G, Barzilay Z (2000). "The sixth vital sign: end-tidal CO2 in pediatric trauma patients during transport". Harefuah. 139 (3–4): 85–7, 168. PMID 10979461.
- ^ Bierman A (2001). "Functional Status: The Sixth Vital Sign". J Gen Intern Med. 16 (11): 785–6. doi:10.1111/j.1525-1497.2001.10918.x. PMC 1495293. PMID 11722694.
- ^ "Nursing care of dyspnea: the 6th vital sign in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).". National Guideline Clearinghouse.
- ^ Studenski S, Perera S, Wallace D, et al. (2003). "Physical performance measures in the clinical setting". J Am Geriatr Soc. 51 (9): 314–322. doi:10.1046/j.1532-5415.2003.51104.x. PMID 12588574.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j PEDIATRIC AGE SPECIFIC, page 6. Revised 6/10. By Theresa Kirkpatrick and Kateri Tobias. UCLA Health System
- ^ Emergency Care, Page 214
- ^ Emergency Care, Page 215
- ^ Vorvick, Linda. "Pulse". MedlinePlus. U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
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