Cardiac arrest remains a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units worldwide. Consequently, clinicians constantly seek reliable markers to improve post-resuscitation care. The Blood Pressure Response Index (BPRI) has recently emerged as a significant indicator of cardiovascular responsiveness. Notably, researchers in a retrospective study evaluated how this metric relates to in-hospital outcomes for patients recovering from arrest.

The study analyzed data from 109 adult patients treated in the emergency intensive care unit of the Second People's Hospital of Hefei. Among these individuals, 41 survived to discharge while 68 unfortunately died. Therefore, identifying survivors early remains a critical clinical priority. Non-survivors typically displayed higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores and significantly elevated lactate levels compared to survivors.

Predictive Power of the Blood Pressure Response Index

The researchers found that lower BPRI values independently associated with increased risks of adverse in-hospital outcomes. Specifically, patients with lower index scores faced a five-fold higher risk of mortality. Furthermore, lower BPRI values correlated strongly with an increased risk of acute kidney injury. Consequently, the index provides a simple and practical prognostic view for clinicians managing hemodynamic stability.

Moreover, receiver operating characteristic analyses demonstrated that BPRI outperformed traditional scoring systems like SOFA and the acute physiology score. Additionally, the index is easy to calculate during routine post-resuscitation monitoring because it uses existing clinical data. As a result, this marker may support better clinical decision-making in high-pressure environments by identifying high-risk patients earlier.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Blood Pressure Response Index?

The Blood Pressure Response Index (BPRI) is a ratio calculated by dividing the mean arterial pressure by the vasoactive inotropic score. It reflects how well a patient's cardiovascular system responds to vasoactive medications.

How does BPRI help in post-resuscitation care?

BPRI helps clinicians predict the risk of in-hospital mortality and acute kidney injury. A lower BPRI indicates poor cardiovascular responsiveness, signaling a need for more intensive monitoring or alternative therapeutic strategies.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Refer to the latest local and national guidelines for clinical practice.

References

1. Zuo S et al. Association between blood pressure response index and in-hospital outcomes in cardiac arrest patients: A retrospective study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2026 Apr 03. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000048218. PMID: 41931356.

2. Umarmono U, Purnawan I. Vasoactive-inotropic score for prediction of critical patient mortality: A systematic review. Jurnal Ilmiah Keperawatan Indonesia. 2025;8(2).

3. Gardner MM, et al. Identification of post-cardiac arrest blood pressure thresholds associated with outcomes in children: An ICU-Resuscitation study. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2023 Oct;24(10):811-821.