5. Nocturnal Dipping Pattern in Hypertensive Patients as a Risk Factor for Cerebral Small Vessel Disease (CSVD): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Cerebral small vascular disease (CSVD) is one of the most prevalent cerebral vascular pathologies encountered by middle-aged and older people, which can be observed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The most important modifiable risk factor for CSVD is hypertension. Abnormal circadian blood pressure (BP) variability has been reported to significantly damage hypertensive patients’ target organs. Moreover, in many studies, controlling sleep blood pressure has been shown to exert greater protection against stroke and cardiovascular events. Objective: We aim to assess the nocturnal dipping pattern of blood pressure with the findings of cerebral small vessel disease. Method: We performed a comprehensive search on topics that assess nocturnal blood pressure monitoring and cerebral small vessel disease findings through imaging from inception up until November 2022. Result: There were a total of 2674 patients from 5 studies. The outcome of this study reported that reverse dipping and dipping BP patterns were significantly associated with the prevalence of CSVD. Meta-analysis showed that the reverse dipping BP pattern was associated with a higher risk for CSVD (OR 2.18 [1.80, 2.64], p = 0.64; I2: 0%, p < 0.00001), meanwhile dipping pattern had a lower risk for CSVD (OR 0.51 [0.42, 0.63], p = 0.04; I2: 59%, p < 0.00001). There was no association between the non-dipping pattern and CSVD (OR 0.92 [0.77, 1.10], p = 0.70; I2:0%, p = 0.35). Conclusion: Nocturnal BP pattern and CSVD were shown to be associated, with the reverse dipping BP pattern having a higher risk and dipping having a lower risk.