answersLogoWhite

0

Systolic blood pressure is typically considered to be measured on a ratio scale. Ratio scales have a true zero point, meaning that a value of zero indicates the absence of the quantity being measured. In the case of systolic blood pressure, a reading of 0 mmHg would indicate no pressure at all, making it a ratio scale measurement.

User Avatar

ProfBot

1mo ago

Still curious? Ask our experts.

Chat with our AI personalities

JudyJudy
Simplicity is my specialty.
Chat with Judy
DevinDevin
I've poured enough drinks to know that people don't always want advice—they just want to talk.
Chat with Devin
ViviVivi
Your ride-or-die bestie who's seen you through every high and low.
Chat with Vivi
More answers

Ratio.

All pressure readings are on the ratio scale. There is a starting point, atmospheric pressure. If there blood pressure increases by 10%, there is 10% more force being exerted.

I note a related one - temperature is a tricky one. If I have degrees C, then it is on the interval scale, but if I convert to degrees K, then it can be considered on the ratio scale, as there is a starting point, and a doubling K has meaning.

I'M NEW, AND DID NOT WANT TO REMOVE THE FIRST ANSWER, BUT I AM CERTAIN IT IS INCORRECT. HERE IS WHY:

Actually, the scale is INTERVAL, because of the above-mentioned fact that the starting point is the atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure is not an absolute zero point. Say you are at the sea level, where normal air pressure is 1 atm=101.325kPa=760mmHg (millimeters of Mercury are usually used to report blood pressure), and your Systolic Blood Pressure is 68mmHg (so the absolute value is: 760mmHg of starting point + 68mmHg of your blood pressure = 828mmHg). Now, let's say your Systolic Blood Pressure jumped 10%, that is to 74.8mmHg (the new absolute value is: 760mmHg of the same starting point + 74.8mmHg of your new blood pressure = 834.8mmHg), and the absolute ratio is not maintained, i.e.: 834.8mmHg / 828mmHg = 1.008. That is the absolute increase is about 0.8%. The differences become even more significant at higher elevations, where the air pressure is lower.

User Avatar

Wiki User

12y ago
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: Is systolic blood pressure an interval or ratio scale?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp