Rate Pressure Product Calculator

How it is calculated

The tool multiplies two numbers: RPP = HR × SBP. HR is the heart rate in beats per minute (bpm) and SBP is the systolic blood pressure, the upper number of a reading, in mmHg. The result is shown in mmHg·bpm as a whole number.

Both values must be above zero. The tool needs the systolic number alone: a full reading such as 120/80 is not accepted and returns nothing, so type 120. Diastolic pressure plays no part in the calculation. Because it is a plain product, doubling either value doubles the RPP. The tool does not judge the result: it gives no normal range, and what counts as a worrying value depends on the person and the situation, so it needs a clinician to interpret it.

Common mistakes

• Typing the whole reading (120/80) into the pressure field. Enter only the systolic value, 120.
• Using the diastolic (lower) number or the mean pressure. The formula is defined with the systolic pressure.
• Entering a heart rate for 15 seconds without multiplying by 4. The field is beats per minute.
• Comparing a resting value with one taken during exercise, or readings from different people, as if they were the same situation. RPP only means something compared with the same person under similar conditions.
• Expecting a diagnosis or a limit from the result. It is a workload estimate, not a measure of how healthy the heart is.