How important is pulse pressure(difference between systolic and diastolic) these days? do drs consider this an important indicator of cardiovascular disease?

Pulse pressure: This is a highly reliable and reproducible measure of arterial wall stiffness in hypertension and correlates with cardiovascular events and all cause mortality.See Mancia G, De Backer G, Dominiczak A, et al. (June 2007). "2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension: The Task Force for the Management of Arterial Hypertension of the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the

Pulse pressure: Pulse pressure can be an important indicator of several characteristics of the cardiovascular system. It can help indicate the seriousness of aortic valve insufficiency and can indicate the state of peripheral vascular resistance and stroke volume relationship among other things.

Important: It is a very important factor, but within the context of everything else. The systolic and diastolic individually are more important but the difference can help discern if the heart/cardiac output is adequate or not, and other subtle findings. Cardiologist do consider it often.

Yes, it's useful: And the circumstances are important to. Pulse pressure can be useful diagnostically, in determining mean arterial pressure in critical illness or cardiac failure, and in the elder patient in determining how stiff the blood vessels have become. There are a number of other implications, e.g. congenital or acquired cardiac defects. The physical exam is always useful. Technology won't supplant that.