Is Radial Pulse Assessment for 30 Seconds more Accurate than Electrocardiogram?

Palpation of the radial pulse is a valuable clinical tool and one of the most useful physical examinations in medical care. The aim of the present study was to investigate the correlation between the number of pulses measured by the radial artery and the pulses recorded by electrocardiogram (ECG).

We conducted a correlational study and the research population included patients attending Emergency Department in Sari Imam Khomeini Hospital. The pulse rate was recorded by measuring the radial pulse rate of the left hand and the heart rate using an electrocardiogram device. In case of regular rhythm, the number of beats was measured for 15, 30, and 60 seconds using a digital stopwatch and multiplied by 4, 2, and 1, respectively.

There was a slight difference in pulse rate between the radial artery measurement for 15 seconds and the ECG that was statistically significant (P<0.001), but this difference was not significant for 30 and 60 seconds (P>0.05). The ICC correlation coefficient between pulse rates for 15, 30, and 60 seconds and ECG was high (above 0.98).

Based on the present study, instead of electrocardiogram, radial pulse count for 30 seconds multiplied by 2 can be used in clinical conditions, especially in emergency.