1071 Gender differences in 24-hour blood pressure regulation in hypertensive patients with coronary atherosclerosis confirmed in angiography

Abstract

Introduction: More and more evidence indicate that gender plays important role in hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to assess 24-hour blood pressure profile in hypertensive men and women with established coronary atherosclerosis. Methods: We enrolled 891 patients with hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis confirmed in coronary angiography (at least one coronary stenosis ≥70%), divided into two groups: women, n = 276, mean age 66.4 ± 8.4 and men, n = 615, mean age 62.5 ± 9.5. Reverse dipper, Dipper, Non-dipper and Extreme dipper profiles were defined according to night fall of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Results: Higher values of only DBP were observed in men in comparison to women as follows: 24-h (72.7 ± 8.3 mmHg vs. 68.5 ± 8.1 mmHg, p < 0.01), daytime (75.4 ± 8.6 mmHg vs. 71.4 ± 8.6 mmHg, p < 0.01) and nighttime (68.2 ± 9.0 mmHg vs. 63.7 ± 8.4 mmHg, p < 0.01). Our study revealed higher mean nocturnal/diurnal ratio (nighttime/daytime BP values) in men than women only for DBP (0.91 ± 0.06 vs. 0.89 ± 0.07, p < 0.02). There was lower prevalence of dippers in men than in women (39.7% vs. 47.8%, p < 0.02). The most common profiles were as follows: in men – non-dipper (43.2%) and in women – dipper (47.8%). The men group and the women group did not differ in treatment of hypertension (assessed either as number of antihypertensive agents or prevalence of using particular groups of antihypertensive drugs). Conclusion: Gender influences blood pressure regulation in patients with hypertension and coronary atherosclerosis. Dipper profile is more characteristic for women than for men.