Higher Nighttime Systolic Blood Pressure Research Articles

Effects of Heavy Alcohol Use on Nighttime Blood Pressure, Sleep Quality, and Urine Catecholamines

Heavy alcohol drinking habits contribute to the development of hypertension; this is partly due to overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and the increased release of catecholamines. Recently, heavy alcohol drinking has been linked to poor sleep quality, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We postulated that long-term frequent heavy alcohol use could increase catecholamine levels and cause blood pressure dysregulation at night, altogether influencing sleep quality. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the following hypothesis that compared to non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers have a higher level of nighttime catecholamines, a higher levels of nighttime blood pressure, and poorer sleep quality. A total of 44 men and postmenopausal women non-smokers, free of major clinical diseases, were included in this study. Heavy drinkers were defined as those having a dried blood spot phosphatidylethanol (PEth, a biomarker to detect heavy alcohol drinking) level ≥ 20 ng/mL. Participants wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and catecholamines were measured from urine samples collected in the same 24-hour period. Sleep quality was measured by using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) questionnaire. There were 21 heavy drinkers (mean±SEM for age: 58±1 and BMI: 26.2±0.7 kg/m2) and 23 non-heavy drinkers (age: 58±1 and BMI: 27.5±0.8 kg/m2; P≥0.3 vs. heavy drinkers). Compared to non-heavy drinkers, heavy drinkers had a higher nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP), higher diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and a lower SBP dipping ratio (heavy drinkers vs. non-heavy drinkers for nighttime SBP: 118±3 vs. 109±2 mmHg, P=0.02; nighttime DBP: 70±2 vs. 65±2 mmHg, P=0.04; and SBP dipping ratio: 10.6±1.4% vs. 14.5±1.6%, P=0.04). No differences were found in nighttime urine catecholamines between heavy drinkers and non-heavy drinkers (P≥0.3). A total of 13 participants had a PSQI score higher than 5, indicating poor sleep quality; however, PSQI scores were similar between heavy and non-heavy drinkers (P=0.8). These findings indicate that heavy drinkers had a higher nighttime blood pressure and are consistent with the observation that heavy drinking is associated with an increased risk of hypertension in mid-life adults. Interestingly, the increase in nighttime blood pressure does not appear to be related to catecholamines and sleep quality in apparently healthy mid-life adults does not appear to be influenced by heavy drinking habits. This work was supported by NIAAA AA028537 to CLH and AHA 1266805160 to TH. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The Hearing Function and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Older Adults.

To examine the association between hearing function, assessed with pure-tone average (PTA) of air conduction thresholds, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in older adults. Cross-sectional study. A total of 1404 community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years from the Seniors-ENRICA cohort were examined. Hearing loss was defined as PTA > 40-AudCal hearing loss decibels (dB-aHL) in the better ear for standard frequency (0.5, 1, and 2 kHz), speech frequency (0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz), and high frequency (3, 4, and 8 kHz). Circadian BP patterns were calculated as the percentage decline in systolic BP during the night, and participants were classified as dipper, nondipper, and riser. Ambulatory hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 130/80 mm Hg (24 hour), ≥135/85 (daytime), and ≥120/70 (nighttime) or on antihypertensive treatment. Analyses were performed with linear- and logistic-regression models adjusted for the main confounders. In multivariable analyses, the PTA was associated with higher nighttime systolic BP [β coefficient per 20 dB-aHL increment standard frequency (95% confidence interval, CI): 2.41 mm Hg (0.87, 3.95); β (95% CI) per 20 dB-aHL increment speech frequency 2.17 mm Hg (0.70, 3.64)]. Among hypertensive patients, hearing loss at standard and high-frequency PTA was associated with the riser BP pattern [odds ratio: 2.01 (95% CI, 1.03-3.93) and 1.45 (1.00-2.09), respectively]; also, hearing loss at standard PTA was linked to uncontrolled nighttime BP [1.81 (1.01-3.24)]. PTA was associated with higher nighttime BP, and hearing loss with a riser BP pattern and uncontrolled BP in older hypertensives.

Long term effect of renal denervation on 24 hour abpm blood pressure variability and blood pressure load parameters

The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term effect of renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) on 24h ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) and blood pressure load (BP load) in patients with resistant hypertension. The study included 32 patients with treatment-resistant hypertension and performed successful RSD. The effect of renal denervation was significant both in terms of daytime, nighttime and 24-hour arterial pressure, with the most pronounced effect on nocturnal blood pressure. In addition to mean BP reduction we found out a significant improvement of weighted 24 h SD and BP load during follow-up. A long-term effect of the RSD, reported as a reduction in 24-hour systolic blood pressure above 10 mm Hg at month 12, was found in 22 patients (68.8%). In multivariate regression analysis, two parameters remained predictive for successful renal denervation – higher nighttime systolic blood pressure (OR 0.9, 95% CI 0.8-1.005, p = 0.05) and lower pulse pressure (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.01-1.26, p = 0.03). 

Association between blood pressure and angiotensin-converting enzymes activity in prepubertal children ∗.

Angiotensin-converting enzymes' (ACEs) relationship with blood pressure (BP) during childhood has not been clearly established. We aimed to compare ACE and ACE2 activities between BMI groups in a sample of prepubertal children, and to characterize the association between these enzymes' activities and BP. Cross-sectional study of 313 children aged 8-9 years old, included in the birth cohort Generation XXI (Portugal). Anthropometric measurements and 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring were performed. ACE and ACE2 activities were quantified by fluorometric methods. Overweight/obese children demonstrated significantly higher ACE and ACE2 activities, when compared to their normal weight counterparts [median (P25-P75), ACE: 39.48 (30.52-48.97) vs. 42.90 (35.62-47.18) vs. 43.38 (33.49-49.89) mU/ml, P for trend = 0.009; ACE2: 10.41 (7.58-15.47) vs. 21.56 (13.34-29.09) vs. 29.00 (22.91-34.32) pM/min per ml, P for trend < 0.001, in normal weight, overweight and obese children, respectively]. In girls, night-time systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) increased across tertiles of ACE activity ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). ACE2 activity was associated with higher night-time SBP and DBP in overweight/obese girls ( P = 0.037 and P = 0.048, respectively) and night-time DBP in the BMI z-score girl adjusted model ( P = 0.018). Median ACE2 levels were significantly higher among nondipper girls (16.7 vs. 11.6 pM/min per ml, P = 0.009). Our work shows that obesity is associated with activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, with significant increase of ACE and ACE2 activities already in childhood. Also, we report sex differences in the association of ACE and ACE2 activities with BP.

Abstract 088: Comparison Of 24-hour Blood Pressure Tracking Between A Commercially Available Cuffless Wearable Device And Standard Ambulatory Monitoring

Introduction: Cuffless blood pressure (BP) monitoring offers great potential in assessing 24-hour BP without user disturbance. Despite the myriad of commercially available cuffless BP devices, it is uncertain whether these devices can accurately track BP changes during usual daily activities and sleep as with standard 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Hypothesis: A commercially available cuffless wearable BP device, previously demonstrated to have good accuracy for seated BP, can track 24-hour BP changes as well as standard ABPM. Methods: We included 45 individuals (36 hypertensive, 15 female, age 58±14 years [mean±SD]) in two centres (Perth, Australia; Athens, Greece). Participants used a cuffless wearable BP device (Aktiia, Switzerland) continuously for 7-10 days and 24-hour ABPM (MicroLife WatchBP O3, Switzerland) on the first and the last day of cuffless BP monitoring. Daily 24-hour, daytime, and nighttime BP values were averaged across the total study days for the cuffless device and across the two ABPM days. Results: Compared to ABPM, the cuffless device reported higher 24-hour systolic BP (SBP) by 6.8 mmHg, 95% CI [3.7, 9.7], higher daytime SBP by 3.8 mmHg [1.0, 6.7], and higher nighttime SBP by 17.5 mmHg [13.6, 21.4] (all p≤0.01). Cuffless 24-hour diastolic BP (DBP) was comparable with ABPM (difference 1.2 mmHg, 95% CI [-1.0, 3.5]), as was daytime DBP (difference -0.8 mmHg, [-3.0, 1.3]) (both p≥0.27), but nighttime DBP was higher by 9.2 mmHg, [6.3, 12.2] (p&lt;0.001). Nighttime dip in SBP (-5.1 mmHg, 95% CI [-13.7, 3.6]) and DBP (-3.8 mmHg, [-11.6, 4.2]) as measured by the cuffless device were substantially less than ABPM (SBP dip: -18.0 mmHg, [-35.5, -1.2]; DBP dip: -13.8 mmHg, [-27.2, -0.8]). The cuffless device identified 44 nighttime non-dippers (defined as a relative dip &lt; 10%) for SBP and 42 non-dippers for DBP, compared to 10 non-dippers for both SBP and DBP as identified by ABPM (both comparisons p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: A commercially available cuffless wearable BP device was unable to adequately track diurnal BP variation and considerably overestimated average SBP over 24 hours as compared to standard ABPM.

Diagnosing hypertension in primary care: a retrospective cohort study to investigate the importance of night-time blood pressure assessment.

Ambulatory blood-pressure monitoring (ABPM) has become less frequent in primary care since the COVID-19 pandemic, with home blood-pressure monitoring (HBPM) often the preferred alternative; however, HBPM cannot measure night-time blood pressure (BP), and patients whose night-time BP does not dip, or rises (reverse dipping), have poorer cardiovascular outcomes. To investigate the importance of measuring night-time BP when assessing individuals for hypertension. Retrospective cohort study of two patient populations - namely, hospital patients admitted to four UK acute hospitals located in Oxfordshire, and participants of the BP in different ethnic groups (BP-Eth) study, who were recruited from 28 UK general practices in the West Midlands. Using BP data collected for the two cohorts, three systolic BP phenotypes (dipper, non-dipper, and reverse dipper) were studied. Among the hospital cohort, 48.9% (n = 10 610/21 716) patients were 'reverse dippers', with an average day-night systolic BP difference of +8.0 mmHg. Among the community (BP-Eth) cohort, 10.8% (n = 63/585) of patients were reverse dippers, with an average day-night systolic BP difference of +8.5 mmHg. Non-dipper and reverse-dipper phenotypes both had lower daytime systolic BP and higher night-time systolic BP than the dipper phenotype. Average daytime systolic BP was lowest in the reverse-dipping phenotype (this was 6.5 mmHg and 6.8 mmHg lower than for the dipper phenotype in the hospital and community cohorts, respectively), thereby placing them at risk of undiagnosed, or masked, hypertension. Not measuring night-time BP puts all groups, other than dippers, at risk of failure to identify hypertension. As a result of this study, it is recommended that GPs should offer ABPM to all patients aged ≥60 years as a minimum when assessing for hypertension.

Diurnal Cortisol Slope and Nighttime Blood Pressure: A Study in European Americans and African Americans.

African Americans (AAs) have higher nighttime blood pressure (BP) than European Americans (EAs). Stress has been suggested to play a role in this difference, but the mechanism is not well-understood. Flatter diurnal cortisol slope (DCS) is a well-known biological marker of stress. The objectives of this study were to: 1) examine ethnic differences in DCS; 2) evaluate the association between DCS and nighttime BP; and 3) determine the extent to which ethnic differences in nighttime BP can be explained by ethnic differences in DCS. A total of 510 participants (age range: 14-35 years; 49.6% AAs, 54.5% females) provided four salivary cortisol samples at bedtime, wakeup, 30-minutes post-wakeup, and 60-minutes post-wakeup. Additionally, participants wore an ambulatory BP monitor for 24 hours. DCS was calculated as the average of the three morning samples minus the bedtime measurement. After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, and smoking, AAs had blunted DCS (P=.018) and higher nighttime systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) (Ps<.001) compared with EAs. The DCS was inversely related to nighttime SBP and this relationship did not depend on ethnicity. The ethnic difference of nighttime SBP was significantly attenuated upon addition of DCS to the model. Mediation test showed that 9.5% of ethnic difference in nighttime SBP could be explained by DCS (P=.039). This study confirms ethnic differences in DCS and nighttime BP and further demonstrates that the ethnic differences in DCS can, at least partially, explain the ethnic differences found in nighttime BP.

Abstract P190: Antihypertensive Treatment Improves Left Ventricular Geometry After 10 Years Even In Elderly Hypertensive Patients

Introduction: Both ageing and high blood pressure (BP) is associated with a risk of left ventricular hypertrophy; therefore, it is unclear whether antihypertensive treatment for 10 years period reduce cardiac hypertrophy and concentricity beyond the impact of ageing. We assessed the hypothesis that even in elderly patients, BP reduction is effective for left ventricular remodeling. Methods: Among 558 hypertensive patients without concurrent heart disease referred to a cardiology clinic who underwent echocardiography and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 151 patients’ data of echocardiography was available after 10 years of follow up period. We evaluated the relation among BP at baseline, antihypertensive medications, and change in echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular geometry. Results: Mean age was 70.8±8.2 years at baseline. 24-hour BP was 127.4±16.4/71.4±9.6mmHg, awake BP was 129.9±17.1/72.4±10.2mmHg, and asleep BP was 122.5±16.9/67.1±9.1 mmHg. After 10 years (mean age 81.0±9.0 years), number of antihypertensive increased from 1.3±1.2 to 2.0±1.1. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) insignificantly decreased from 115.7 to 98.7mg/m 2 (p=0.167)and relative wall thickness (RWT) significantly decreased from 0.51 to 0.47(p&lt;0.001). There were 12% of patients with normal left ventricular geometry (N), 52% with concentric remodeling (CR), 9% with eccentric hypertrophy (EH), and 27% with concentric hypertrophy (CH) at baseline. Among patients with N or CR at baseline, those who developed to CH or EH had higher night time systolic BP (126.5±17.0 vs 118.9 ±15.4, p=0.037) than those who did not. Neither number nor type of antihypertensive was related to this geometry change. In logistic regression analysis, night time systolic BP was significantly related to the progression of hypertrophy adjusting for age, sex, BMI, LVMI, RWT, and clinic systolic BP at baseline (p=0.04). Conclusions: Even in elderly hypertensive patients, antihypertensive treatment for 10 years improved LV geometry in spite of ageing. Nighttime BP at baseline predicted worsening of LV geometry after 10 years beyond clinic BP.

A non-invasive left ventricular pressure-strain loop study on myocardial work in primary aldosteronism

We investigated the myocardial work derived from left ventricular pressure-strain loop in patients with primary aldosteronism or primary hypertension. We enrolled 50 patients with primary aldosteronism, 50 age- and sex-matched patients with primary hypertension, and 25 normotensive control subjects. We performed transthoracic echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography-based left ventricular pressure-strain loop analysis to evaluate cardiac structure and function. Patients with primary aldosteronism and those with primary hypertension had similar clinic and ambulatory blood pressures, except that the former had a significantly (P = 0.03) higher nighttime systolic blood pressure. All subjects had normal left ventricular ejection fraction (66.4 ± 4.7%). Patients with primary aldosteronism had a greater left ventricular mass index than those with primary hypertension and the normal controls (111.0 ± 21.6 g/m2 versus 95.7 ± 17.7 and 77.9 ± 13.5 g/m2, respectively, P < 0.001). The global myocardial work index (GWI, 2336 ± 333, 2366 ± 288, and 2292 ± 249 mmHg%, respectively), and global constructive work (GCW, 2494 ± 325, 2524 ± 301, and 2391 ± 193 mmHg%, respectively), were comparable in the three groups (P ≥ 0.18). However, the global work efficiency (GWE) differed significantly (P < 0.001), being lowest in primary aldosteronism (91.1 ± 2.7%), intermediate in primary hypertension (93.5 ± 2.5%) and highest in controls (95.3 ± 1.5%). The opposite was true for the global wasted work (GWW) (205.6 ± 74.6, 142.0 ± 56.4 and 99.4 ± 33.7 mmHg%, respectively, P < 0.001). GWE was significantly correlated with the logarithmically transformed plasma concentration and the urinary excretion of aldosterone in patients with primary aldosteronism or primary hypertension (r = -0.43 for both, P < 0.001). The associations remained statistically significant (P ≤ 0.04) after further adjustment for several factors, including left ventricular mass index and clinic or nighttime blood pressure. In conclusion, GWE decreased and GWW increased in primary hypertension and further in primary aldosteronism, probably because of the adrenal aldosterone hypersecretion and the left ventricular mass index increase, while GWI and GCW were similar, indicating that similar and normalized total myocardial work might be a compensation in hypertension at the expense of work efficiency.

Non-dipping pattern in early-stage diabetes: association with glycemic profile and hemodynamic parameters.

Patients with longstanding diabetes exhibit diminished nocturnal blood pressure (BP) drop, yet this phenomenon remains understudied in the early stages of the disease. Eighty patients with newly diagnosed (<6 months) Diabetes Mellitus type 2 (T2DM) and 80 non-T2DM individuals underwent office and 24-h ambulatory BP measurements, estimation of hemodynamic parameters using impedance cardiography and blood tests. Ten-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk score was calculated. T2DM patients exhibited higher nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p = 0.028) and lower dipping (p < 0.001) compared to controls. In the total population, dipping correlated negatively with age, HbA1c, ASCVD risk score, and positively with HDL Cholesterol and Velocity Index (VI), a marker of myocardial contractility (p < 0.05). Nighttime SBP correlated positively with ASCVD risk, BMI, HbA1c, fasting glucose, eGFR, and negatively with VI (p < 0.05). After adjustment for other variables, HbA1c (p = 0.03), eGFR (p = 0.02) and VI (p = 0.004) independently predicted non-dipping. Multivariate analysis revealed HbA1c (p = 0.023), eGFR (p = 0.05), and VI (p = 0.006) as independent predictors of nighttime SBP. Patients diagnosed with T2DM concurrently present impaired circadian BP rhythm, which appears to be directly associated with impaired glycemic profile. The observed association with myocardial contractility might represent an additional mechanism for the aggravated cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Nocturnal blood pressure rise as a predictor of cognitive impairment among the elderly: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundThis study investigated the different blood pressure patterns that were evaluated by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) among elderly patients and explored the effect of pressure patterns on cognitive impairment and mortality.MethodsA total of 305 elderly participants aged ≥65 years were divided into the cognitive impairment group (CI, n = 130) and the non-cognitive impairment group (NCI, n = 175) according to the MMSE score. All participants underwent ABPM to evaluate possible hypertensive disorder and cerebral MRI for the evaluation of cerebral small vessel disease. Follow-up was performed by telephone or medical records. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary endpoints were major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE).ResultsAmong 305 participants, 130 (42.6%) were identified with cognitive impairment (CI), with average systolic blood pressure (BP) of 127 mmHg and diastolic BP of 66 mmHg. According to ABPM, only 13.1% had a dipper pattern, 45.6% had a nocturnal BP rise, while 41.3% had a non-dipper pattern. Compared with NCI patients, the CI group had significantly higher night-time systolic BP (130.0 ± 18.2 vs. 123.9 ± 15.1, p = 0.011), and more participants had nocturnal BP rise (52.3% vs. 40.6%, p = 0.042). Nocturnal BP rise was associated with greater white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (p = 0.013). After 2.03 years of follow-up, there were 35 all-cause deaths and 33 cases of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). CI was independently associated with all-cause mortality during long-term observation (p < 0.01). Nocturnal BP rise had no significant predictive ability for all-cause mortality in elderly patients (p = 0.178).ConclusionsNocturnal BP rise contributed to greater cognitive impairment in elderly patients. Not nocturnal BP rise, but CI could significantly increase all-cause mortality. Controlling BP based on ABPM is critical for preventing the progression of cognitive dysfunction.

Assessment of psychiatric comorbidities and serotonergic or noradrenergic medication use on blood pressure using 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

In this study, the authors aimed to assess both nighttime and daytime blood pressure (BP) variability using 24‐hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in persons with and without psychiatric conditions and with or without selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) treatment. In this retrospective study, patients who underwent psychiatric evaluation and ABPM within 6 months of each other between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2017 were identified using billing data. Participants were divided into three groups—participants with no psychiatric diagnosis and no psychiatric medicine (−Diagnosis/−Medication), those with psychiatric diagnosis and on SSRIs/SNRIs (+Diagnosis/+Medication), and psychiatric diagnosis but no psychiatric medications (+Diagnosis/−Medication). Day and nighttime systolic and diastolic BPs were compared between groups controlling for relevant variables using multivariable linear regression models. A total of 475 participants met inclusion criteria including 135 in the −Diagnosis/−Medication group, 232 in the +Diagnosis/+Medication group, and 108 in the +Diagnosis/−Medication group. In adjusted multivariable analysis, the +Diagnosis/+Medication group had higher nighttime systolic BP (median 120 vs 110 mm (Hg); p = .01) and nighttime diastolic BP (median 68 vs 63 mm (Hg); p = .006) as compared to −Diagnosis/−Medication. No statistically significant differences in BPs between the −Diagnosis/−Medication and +Diagnosis/−Medication groups were observed, after adjustment. Use of SSRIs/SNRIs was associated with significantly higher nocturnal systolic and diastolic BP among patients with psychiatric diagnosis using SSRIs/SNRIs but not associated with psychiatric diagnosis without SSRI/SNRI use. SSRIs/SNRIs use may be associated with higher BP levels and this merits future prospective studies using ABPM to assess day and nighttime BP changes with SSRIs/SNRIs use.

Differences in ambulatory blood pressure profiles between Japanese and Thai patients with hypertension /suspected hypertension.

Ethnic differences in the profiles of hypertension and cardiovascular risk have been reported between Asians and Westerners. However, blood pressure (BP) profiles and the risk factors for cardiovascular disease might differ even among different Asian populations because of the diversity of cultures, foods, and environments. We retrospectively examined differences in 24‐h BP profiles between 1051 Japanese (mean age, 62.5 ± 12.4 years; medicated hypertension, 75.7%) and 804 Thai (mean age, 56.9 ± 18.5 years; medicated hypertension, 65.6%) by using the Japanese and Thai ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) databases, in order to check the BP control status in treated hypertensives and to inform the clinical diagnosis of hypertension. The two populations had similar office systolic BP (SBP) (142.7 ± 20.0 vs 142.3 ± 20.6 mm Hg, p = .679). However, the Japanese population had higher 24‐hr average and daytime SBP, and the Thai population had higher nighttime SBP even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors (all p < .05). Greater morning BP surge was observed in Japanese (31.2 vs 22.8 mm Hg, p < .001). Regarding nocturnal BP dipping status, the prevalence of riser status (higher nighttime than daytime SBP) was higher in the Thai population (30.5% vs 10.9%). These findings suggest that a substantial difference in 24‐hr BP profiles exists between even neighboring countries in Asia.

Nighttime Blood Pressure Interacts with APOE Genotype to Increase the Risk of Incident Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type in Hispanics.

Dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) impacts Hispanics disproportionately, with almost a twofold elevated risk of developing DAT, as well as earlier onset of the disease, than in non-Hispanic Whites. However, the role of main risk factors for DAT, such as APOE-ɛ4 and blood pressure (BP) levels, remains uncertain among Hispanics. To investigate the association of APOE-ɛ4 and BP levels, measures with 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring, with incidence of DAT in an elderly cohort of Hispanics. 1,320 participants from the Maracaibo Aging Study, free of dementia at the baseline, and with ambulatory BP measurements and APOE genotype available were included. Adjusted Cox proportional models were performed to examine 1) the incidence of DAT and 2) the relationship between BP levels and DAT according to APOE genotypes. Models were adjusted by competing risk of death before the onset of DAT. Model performance was assessed by likelihood test. The average follow-up time was 5.3 years. DAT incidence was 5.8 per 1000 person-year. APOE-ɛ4 carriers had a higher risk of DAT. In unadjusted analyses, conventional, 24-h, and nighttime systolic BP levels were significantly higher in participants who developed DAT and of APOE-ɛ4 carriers (p < 0.05). After adjustment for competing risks, only higher nighttime systolic BP was associated with DAT incidence, but only among subjects carrying APOE-ɛ4. In this Hispanic population, both APOE-ɛ4 genotype and assessment of nocturnal systolic BP (rather than diurnal or office BP) were necessary to estimate DAT risk.

Is the burden of late hypertension and cardiovascular target organ damage in children and adolescents with coarctation of the aorta after early successful repair different to healthy controls?

Cardiovascular morbidity is high in patients with coarctation of aorta even after successful repair. This study aimed to assess the frequency of late hypertension and the relationship between ambulatory hypertension and cardiovascular target organ damage in children and adolescents after early and successful repair of coarctation of the aorta. Twenty-five children and adolescents (mean age 13.5 ± 3.43 years) with repaired coarctation of the aorta (median age at repair 4 months, arm-leg gradient <20 mmHg) and 16 healthy controls were included. Office and ambulatory blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, and left ventricular mass index were assessed. Both day- and night-time systolic blood pressure standard deviation score and left ventricular mass index were significantly higher in patients compared to controls (p ≤ 0.001 for all), whereas pulse wave velocity did not differ. The prevalence of masked hypertension, isolated nocturnal hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy were 40, 28, and 24%, respectively. Left ventricular mass index was higher in patients with sustained hypertension, masked hypertension, and normotension compared to controls (p < 0.05). In multivariate analysis, higher night-time systolic blood pressure standard deviation score was the only independent predictor of left ventricular mass index. The present study reveals a high prevalence of masked hypertension, isolated nocturnal hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy in children and adolescents with coarctation of the aorta even after early and successful repair. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be considered to diagnose hypertension. All coarctation of aorta patients should be followed up lifelong and encouraged to establish a healthy lifestyle starting from childhood.

P0150EFFECT OF SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIS) AND SEROTONIN-NOREPINEPHRINE REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SNRIS) ON BLOOD PRESSURE VARIABILITY USING 24 HOURS AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING

Abstract Background and Aims Hypertension (HTN) and psychiatric disorders frequently co-exist in general population. Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs) affect serotonin and norepinephrine and may lead to variation in blood pressure (BP). There is paucity of data on blood pressure variations using 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) with the use of SSRIs/NSRIs. Method Subjects who underwent psychiatric evaluation and ABPM within six month of each other between 1/1/2012 to 12/31/2016 at Mayo Clinic Florida were identified using billing data. Demographics, co-morbidities, medications, ABPM, and laboratory results were retrospectively collected from medical records. Subjects were divided into groups – subjects with no psychiatric diagnosis and no psychiatric medicine (Group 1) and subjects with psychiatric diagnosis and on SSRIs/NSRIs (Group 2). BP systolic and diastolic levels (day time, night time) were compared between groups controlling for age, sex, race, presence or absence of HTN, diabetes mellitus (DM) and smoking. Single and multivariable linear regression models were used to analyze group differences. Results Total of 367 subjects met inclusion criteria – Group 1=135; Group 2=232. The subjects in group 2 were older (median age 57 yrs vs 47 yrs p&amp;lt;0.001), white (69.8 vs 60% p=0.002), smokers (15.9 vs 3.0% p&amp;lt;0.001), history of HTN (62.5 vs 9.6%), and DM (21.1% vs 0%). ABPM showed that subjects in group 2 had higher median daytime systolic BP (131 vs 124), higher median night time systolic BP (120 vs 110), and higher median night time diastolic BP (68 vs 63). Multivariable linear regression controlling for age, sex, race, presence or absence of HTN, DM, and smoking showed that use of SSRIs/NSRIs (group 2) was significantly associated with higher night time systolic BP (8.36 mm; 95% CI 4.2, 12.5; p &amp;lt;0.0001) and higher night time diastolic BP (4.6 mm, 95% CI 1.9, 7.29, p=0.001). On subgroup analysis comparing subjects with use of SSRIs vs NSRIs, there was no statistically significant difference in the daytime or night time systolic or diastolic BP. Conclusion Use of SSRIs and NSRIs are associated with higher nocturnal systolic and diastolic BP, which can potentially increase the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcome in this population. Higher nocturnal BP may be due to ongoing sympathetic activation during sleep with serotonin and norepinephrine with the use of SRRIs and NSRI. Further well designed prospective studies using ABPM are needed to determine the risk of nocturnal hypertension with the use of SSRIs/NSRIs that could have potential adverse cardiovascular outcome.

Prognostic Value of a Riser Pattern of Nighttime Blood Pressure in Very Elderly Adults of ≥80 Years: A General Practice-Based Prospective SEARCH Study.

We examined our hypothesis that participants with higher mean nighttime blood pressure (BP) levels and/or those with a riser BP pattern, both measured by ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring (ABPM), would show higher risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events compared to those with normal nighttime BP levels or a normal dipper BP pattern of circadian BP rhythm, even in very elderly participants in a general practice population. This prospective observational study enrolled 485 very elderly outpatients of ≥80 years (mean age: 83.2 ± 3.3 years; 44.7% male; 89.3% using antihypertensive medications). The prevalences of extreme dipper, dipper, nondipper, and riser status were 15.5%, 38.6%, 32.2%, and 13.8%, respectively. During a mean follow-up of 3.9 years (1,734 person-years), 41 CVD events occurred. The participants with a riser pattern (higher nighttime systolic BP [SBP] than daytime SBP) showed a significantly higher risk for CVD events with adjustment for covariates: hazard ratio (HR), 2.61; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-6.62. Even after adjusting for covariates and mean nighttime SBP level, the CVD risks in participants with a riser pattern remained significant: HR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.10-8.88. On the other hand, all BP variables showed no significant risks for CVD events. In addition, when we divided study participants into quartiles by their ambulatory BP levels, none of the ambulatory BP variables showed a J- or U-shaped relationship with CVD event risk. In very elderly general practice outpatients, a riser BP pattern was significantly associated with CVD events independently of mean nighttime BP.

Uric acid is not associated with diabetic nephropathy and other complications in type 1 diabetes.

To examine the association between plasma uric acid (UA) and the presence of diabetic complications including diabetic nephropathy and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with type 1 diabetes. This study, which is cross-sectional in design, included 676 Caucasian type 1 diabetes patients from the Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen. Participants with UA within the three lowest sex-specific quartiles were compared with participants with levels in the highest quartile. Unadjusted and adjusted linear regression analyses were applied. Adjustment included sex, age, diabetes duration, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, haemoglobin A1c, 24-h pulse pressure, urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockers. Of the 676 patients, 372 (55%) were male, mean ± SD age was 55 ± 13 years and eGFR was 82 ± 26 mL/min/1.73 m2. The median UA was 0.30 (interquartile range 0.23-0.37) mmol/L. UA in the upper sex-specific quartile was associated with lower eGFR, higher UAER and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and lower 24 h and daytime diastolic blood pressure (BP) in unadjusted analyses (P < 0.001). Moreover, UA in the upper sex-specific quartile was associated with higher nighttime systolic BP and the presence of cardiovascular disease in unadjusted analyses (P ≤ 0.01), but significance was lost after adjustment (P ≥ 0.17). UA was higher across the retinopathy groups [nil (n = 142), simplex (n = 277), proliferative (n = 229) and blind (n = 19)] in unadjusted analyses (P < 0.0001), but not after adjustment (P = 0.12). Patients with an accelerated decline in eGFR (≥3 mL/min/year) had significantly higher UA at baseline (P = 0.006) compared with slow decliners (<3 mL/min/year), but significance was lost after adjustment (P = 0.10). In type 1 diabetes patients, higher UA was associated with lower kidney function and other diabetic complications. The association between higher UA and lower eGFR and lower diastolic BP was independent of traditional risk factors.

Diurnal blood pressure profile and coronary atherosclerosis extent are related to cardiovascular complications

The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between 24 h blood pressure (BP) profile, extent of significant coronary artery stenosis, confirmed by coronary angiography, and cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. Coronary angiographies were performed for all included subjects and significant coronary artery stenosis was considered as ≥ 50% stenosis by atherosclerotic plaque. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP monitoring was performed. Major advanced cardiovascular events (MACE) included revascularization, cardiovascular mortality, total mortality, acute coronary syndromes and stroke. BP analysis revealed higher night-time systolic blood pressure (SBP) values in patients with three or more significant coronary artery stenoses than in those without significant stenosis (120.7 ± 16.4 vs 116.7 ± 14.3 mmHg, p < 0.001), lower night-time SBP dip in patients with three or more significant coronary artery stenoses than in those without significant stenosis (5.7 ± 3.2 vs 7.4 ± 6.8 mmHg, p < 0.001) and lower night-time diastolic blood pressure dip in patients with three or more significant stenoses than in patients without significant stenosis (9.4 ± 7.4 vs 11.9 ± 7.4 mmHg, p < 0.001). Night-time SBP values, night-time/daytime SBP dip and extent of significant coronary artery stenosis were risk factors for MACE, revascularization and cardiovascular mortality. In conclusion, the study shows that advanced coronary artery disease is related to blunted night-time BP dipping and cardiovascular complications.

Hyperinsulinemia and obese phenotype differently influence blood pressure in young normotensive patients with polycystic ovary syndrome.

To differentiate the impact of insulin levels/resistance per se from that of excess weight on blood pressure (BP) daily changes, we evaluated, using 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in a cohort of young normotensive patients affected by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A cross-sectional study was performed. Fifty-four patients were studied according to (a) insulinemic state: 32 hyperinsulinemic and/or insulin-resistant (h-INS) and 22 normoinsulinemic (n-INS) patients; and (b) body mass index (BMI): 22 obese (BMI>30) and 32 lean (18.0<BMI<24.9) patients. Each subject's SBP and DBP and heart rate (HR) were measured by ABPM. Supine and upright plasma renin activity (PRA), and aldosterone levels were also assayed. Patients in the h-INS group showed higher 24-h, daytime, and nighttime diastolic blood pressure (DBP), higher nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels, as well as an increased 24-h, daytime and nighttime HR, compared to both obese and lean patients in the n-INS group. In relation to BMI, only 24-h, daytime, and nighttime DBP were higher in obese than in lean patients. At variance, when both h-INS and obesity were considered, 24-h SBP and DBP were higher in h-INS obese subjects than in the other groups. In multivariate analysis, insulin (max peak), area under the curve of insulin and insulin sensitivity index was independently associated with SBP. (1) Within a normotensive range, hyperinsulinemia and/or insulin resistance influence daily BP variation more than obesity does, suggesting a pivotal role of insulin on BP control in PCOS; (2) altered insulinemic state and ABPM-derived higher nighttime BP and HR may represent early markers to identify PCOS subjects prone to high cardiovascular risk.