What is defined as the difference between the rate of an apical pulse and a radial pulse?

The term that refers to the difference between the rate of an apical pulse and a radial pulse is known as a pulse deficit. This measurement is significant in clinical practice, especially when assessing patients with cardiac issues.

In a healthy individual, the apical pulse and radial pulse should ideally reflect the same heart rate, since they both are indicators of heart activity. However, in certain medical conditions, such as atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias, there may be instances where the heart’s electrical activity does not lead to effective heartbeats that can be palpated at the radial pulse site. This discrepancy is what is referred to as a pulse deficit. It is a critical indicator used by healthcare professionals to assess and monitor the patient's cardiovascular health, enabling them to identify potential underlying issues that may require further investigation or intervention.