Capillary refill time (CRT) has been taught as a rapid indicator of circulatory status. The aim of this study was to define normal CRT in the Australian context and the environmental, patient, and drug factors that influence it. This was the first study to investigate the relationship
between CRT and ethnicity and use of cardiac medications.
Although there may be a theoretical basis for CRT
differences due to these factors, we found no independent
relationship between them and CRT.
Age, sex, ambient temperature, and participant temperature
accounted for only 8% of the variability in CRT
values obtained in this study.