Is impaired sleep quality responsible for a nondipping pattern even in normotensive individuals?

Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the relationship between sleep quality and a dipping-nondipping pattern in normotensive individuals. Our study was carried out on 100 normotensive individuals; 50 of these individuals had a dipping pattern and 50 had a nondipping pattern, and were chosen from among patients in whom ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was applied before for any reason. All study participants underwent the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index survey to evaluate sleep disturbances. The overall scores and all the components of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores were significantly higher in the nondipper normotensive group compared with the dipper normotensive group. In conclusion, the nondipping blood pressure pattern appears to be associated with poor sleep quality not only in hypertensive patients but also in normotensive healthy individuals. When evaluating patients with poor sleep quality, the possibility that they may have a nondipping pattern even if they are normotensive should be kept in mind.