Elevated Nocturnal Blood Pressure Research Articles

A blunted nocturnal blood pressure decline is associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.

It has been suggested that a blunted nocturnal blood pressure (BP) decline is associated with a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, it remains unclear if an abnormal dipping is deleterious per se or it merely reflects an elevated BP during sleep. We aimed to assess the prognostic value of nocturnal BP decline, with or without concomitant elevated nocturnal BP. Vital status and cause of death were obtained from death certificates in 59 124 patients, enrolled in the Spanish ABPM Registry between 2004 and 2014 (median follow-up: 10 years). The association between night-to-day ratio (NDR) and dipping patterns (extreme dippers, dippers, reduced dippers, and risers) with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were evaluated by Cox-proportional models adjusted for clinical confounders and 24 h blood pressure. NDR was associated with all-cause mortality [hazard ratio for 1SD change: 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.17]. Reduced dippers (1.13; 1.06-1.20) and risers (1.41; 1.32-1.51) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause death, whereas extreme dippers (0.90; 0.79-1.02) were not. Elevated NDR (≥0.9) in the absence of elevated night SBP (<120 mmHg) was associated with an increased risk of death (1.13; 1.04-1.22), as well as elevated night SBP but normal NDR (1.38; 1.26-1.50), and the combination of both abnormalities (1.56; 1.46-1.66). Similar results were obtained for cardiovascular mortality. Abnormalities in the circadian pattern are associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. This is maintained even in the absence of nocturnal BP elevation.

Nocturnal Blood Pressure Estimation from Sleep Plethysmography Using Machine Learning.

Elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality. Cuffless BP assessment aided by machine learning could be a desirable alternative to traditional cuff-based methods for monitoring BP during sleep. We describe a machine-learning-based algorithm for predicting nocturnal BP using single-channel fingertip plethysmography (PPG) in healthy adults. Sixty-eight healthy adults with no apparent sleep or CVD (53% male), with a median (IQR) age of 29 (23-46 years), underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) with fingertip PPG and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Features based on pulse morphology were extracted from the PPG waveforms. Random forest models were used to predict night-time systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Our model achieved the highest out-of-sample performance with a window length of 7 s across window lengths explored (60 s, 30 s, 15 s, 7 s, and 3 s). The mean absolute error (MAE ± STD) was 5.72 ± 4.51 mmHg for SBP and 4.52 ± 3.60 mmHg for DBP. Similarly, the root mean square error (RMSE ± STD) was 6.47 ± 1.88 mmHg for SBP and 4.62 ± 1.17 mmHg for DBP. The mean correlation coefficient between measured and predicted values was 0.87 for SBP and 0.86 for DBP. Based on Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) values, the most important PPG waveform feature was the stiffness index, a marker that reflects the change in arterial stiffness. Our results highlight the potential of machine learning-based nocturnal BP prediction using single-channel fingertip PPG in healthy adults. The accuracy of the predictions demonstrated that our cuffless method was able to capture the dynamic and complex relationship between PPG waveform characteristics and BP during sleep, which may provide a scalable, convenient, economical, and non-invasive means to continuously monitor blood pressure.

PREVALENCE OF MASKED UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION IN TREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Objective: There are limited data in Tunisia on the quality of treated blood pressure (BP) control, and in particular, masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) in treated hypertensive patients defined as controlled office BP but uncontrolled out-of-clinic BP. The objective of the study is to define the prevalence of MUCH in treated hypertensive patients. Design and method: An analytical cross-sectional study including 84 treated hypertensive patients aged &gt; 18 years, followed at the outpatient cardiology clinic of the Mohamed Taher Maamouri university hospital in Nabeul over a six months period (July-December 2021). The BP measurement in the office was performed on the day of inclusion. Patients were asked to measure BP at home as instructed by the physician using validated blood pressure self-measurement devices ( MICROLIFE BP A3 PLUS, MICROLIFE BP A2 Basic and Beurer BM 40 ). These devices were loaned to the patient who had to return them on the day of the ABPM installation. Laying of ABPM was performed immediately after the HBPM using a Bravo Mini validated device from Sun Tech Medical. The comparisons of percentages were carried out by the Chi-square test. Results: The mean age of our population was 59.37±13.10 years (range 21-92 years), composed of 43 women and 41 men. The prevalence of MUCH was 6% in HBPM and 8.3% in ABPM. The difference between these two methods was not statistically significant for the detection of masked uncontrolled hypertension (p = 0.320). The prevalence of MUCH was higher in women detected by HBPM (11.6% versus 0%; p = 0.055) and by ABPM (14% versus 2.4%; p = 0.110), the difference according to gender was not statistically significant. ABPM detected also masked uncontrolled nocturnal hypertension in 14.3% of cases. Conclusions: Office BP monitoring alone is thus inadequate to ascertain optimal BP control because of BP variation. HBPM and mainly ABPM which can detect elevated nocturnal BP were needed to confirm proper BP control especially in patients with high cardiovascular risk in whom the prevalence of MUCH is higher.

Masked nocturnal hypertension as a result of high prevalence of non-dippers among apparently well-controlled hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: data from a prospective study

BackgroundAmbulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) show the dipping patterns, identify masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH), and demonstrate the effectiveness of the blood pressure (BP) treatment. MUCH is associated with a two-fold higher risk of adverse events. Prevalence in patients with DM is between 13.3 and 66.4%. Our study aims to investigate the prevalence of MUCH and the BP patterns in a population of apparently well-controlled hypertensive patients with type 2 DM (T2DM). A second aspect was the assessment of the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment.MethodsOne hundred and sixty-three consecutively treated hypertensive patients with T2DM and an office BP between 130–139 and 80–89 mmHg performed a 24 h ABPM. The circadian BP variation, the presence of MUCH, and the correlations with the treatment were assessed.ResultsThere were 75 dippers (46.02%), 77 non-dippers (47.23%), 4 reverse dippers (2.45%), and 7 extreme dippers (4.30%). Eighty-one patients (77 non-dippers + 4 reverse dippers; 49.7%) had isolated nocturnal MUCH according to the mean night ABPM criteria. Dippers and extreme dippers (75 dippers + 7 extreme dippers; 51.3%) did not have any MUCH criteria. The patients took, on an average, 3 antihypertensive drugs with no difference between those with controlled HTN and the isolated nocturnal MUCH group. Significant factors associated with isolated nocturnal MUCH and a non-dipping BP pattern included age > 65 years (OR = 1.9), DM duration > 10 years (OR = 1.4), HTN duration > 6.5 years (OR = 1.2), obesity (OR = 1.6), and cardiovascular comorbidities (OR = 1.4).ConclusionsThe current study shows that half of the treated hypertensive patients with T2DM and office clinical normotension are non-dippers or reverse dippers. They experience isolated nocturnal MUCH due to their elevated nocturnal BP values, which comply with the actual definition of masked nocturnal hypertension. Bedtime chronotherapy in those patients could be linked to better effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment during the night with the important goal of reducing cardiovascular and cerebrovascular adverse events. ABPM should be performed in hypertensive patients with DM for better risk stratification and more effective control of HTN.

Isolated nocturnal hypertension in relation to host and environmental factors and clock genes.

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) is a special type of out‐of‐office hypertension. Its determinants and pathophysiology remain unclear. In a nested case‐control study, we intend to investigate the host, environmental, and genetic factors in relation to INH. Among 2030 outpatients screened from December 2008 till June 2015, 128 patients with INH were identified, and then 128 normotensives were matched according to sex and age. INH was an elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP ≥120/70 mmHg) in the presence of a normal daytime BP (< 135/85 mmHg). Host factors included age, sex, body mass index, smoking and drinking, sleep time and duration, heart rate, serum lipids, and serum creatinine. Environmental cues encompassed season, ambient temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity, and wind speed, and genetic cues 29 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 12 clock genes. Daytime and nighttime BPs averaged 124.9/80.7 and 114.5/73.7 mmHg, respectively, in the INH patients and 121.0/76.5 and 101.8/63.3 mmHg in the normotensive controls. Stepwise logistic regression analyses revealed that INH was associated with nighttime heart rate (P = .0018), sleep duration (P = .0499), and relative humidity (P = .0747). The odds ratios (95% CI) for each 10 beats/min faster nighttime heart rate and 10% lower relative humidity were 1.82 (1.25‐2.65) and 0.82 (0.67‐1.00), respectively. Irrespective of the genetic models, no significant association was observed between INH and the SNPs (P ≥ .054). In conclusion, INH was associated with host and environmental factors rather than genetic markers.

Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles correlate with therapy-induced nocturnal blood pressure changes.

Elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP) is closely associated with increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed as a potential CV risk biomarker and shown to correlate with BP. The present study aimed to assess whether a reduction in BP is paralleled by respective changes in EVs. Fifty-five hypertensive patients (age: 57.7 ± 14.1 years) were included in the study. EVs and BP were assessed at baseline and at 12 weeks follow-up. Interventions to lower BP included advice on life-style modification only or life-style advice combined with additional pharmacotherapy. EVs were evaluated by flow cytometry (CD41+/Annexin V+) and BP by unobserved automated office BP and ambulatory BP monitoring. Nocturnal systolic BP correlated with EV levels at baseline ( P = 0.01). Multivariable regression models showed that changes in nocturnal systolic BP (adjusted R2 = 0.23; P = 0.01) and diastolic BP (adjusted R2 = 0.18; P = 0.02) were associated with respective changes in EV levels. Furthermore, intervention-induced improvement of systolic dipping was associated with a reduction in EVs in the univariate analysis (adjusted R2 = 0.06; P = 0.03). In contrast, systolic office, 24 h- and daytime-BP did not show significant associations with EVs. Patients whose medication was up-titrated at baseline showed a trend towards lower EV levels at follow-up (absolute change of -1.7 ± 1.3 EV/μl; P = 0.057). Circulating platelet-derived EVs were positively associated with nocturnal BP and therapy-induced changes over a 12-week treatment period. EVs may provide an integrated measure of BP changes achieved with pharmacotherapy.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for the management of hypertension.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) has become indispensable in the current management of hypertension. ABPM is particularly useful in the accurate diagnosis of hypertension. Its diagnostic thresholds had been recently established based on hard clinical outcomes. Cross-classification of patients according to office and ambulatory blood pressure identifies white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension. ABPM is also useful in cardiovascular (CV) risk assessment. It provides information on daytime and nighttime blood pressure and circadian rhythm, particularly nighttime blood pressure dipping. Nighttime blood pressure is predictive of CV risk independent of office and daytime blood pressure. Isolated nocturnal hypertension is a special form of masked hypertension, with normal daytime but elevated nocturnal blood pressure. It also helps in the evaluation of blood pressure fluctuation and variation, such as morning blood pressure surge and reading-to-reading blood pressure variability. ABPM may derive several other indexes, such as ambulatory blood pressure index and salt sensitivity index, which may be useful in CV evaluations.

Actigraphy-derived rest--activity rhythms are associated with nocturnal blood pressure in young women.

Misalignment between lifestyle behaviors and endogenous circadian rhythms is associated with elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP) in experimental studies; however, less is known about free-living (i.e. nonlaboratory) circadian disruption and nocturnal BP. Additionally, sex-specific cardiovascular implications of circadian disruption are unclear. To examine the associations between rest--activity rhythms (RAR), a field-based estimate of circadian disruption, and nocturnal BP characteristics in young men and women. Fifty participants (20 ± 1 years; 20 men/30 women) underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring following 14 days of wrist actigraphy. RAR variables of interdaily stability (day-to-day consistency in RAR), intradaily variability (within-day fragmentation of RAR), and relative amplitude (difference between peak vs. trough activity) were derived from actigraphy. Multivariable regression models of mean nocturnal SBP, DBP, and SBP dipping were generated to test main associations with RAR variables, and sex × RAR interactions. Daytime BP, race, BMI, physical activity, sleep duration, alcohol, caffeine, and sodium intake were considered as covariates. In the full sample, no main associations between RAR and nocturnal BP characteristics were found. Sex interacted with RAR such that in women, higher interdaily stability (β = -5.39, 95% CI = -10.04 to -0.73, P = 0.024) and relative amplitude (β = -4.78, 95% CI = -9.22 to -0.34, P = 0.036) were both associated with lower nocturnal SBP. Sex-stratified multivariable models of nocturnal BP also revealed associations between interdaily stability and relative amplitude with SBP dipping in women (all P ≤ 0.01). No associations were apparent in men. Consistent and high-amplitude RAR are favorably associated with nocturnal BP characteristics in young women.

Nocturnal blood pressure is associated with sympathetic nerve activity in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Elevated nocturnal blood pressure (BP) and nocturnal non‐dipping are frequently observed in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and are stronger predictors of cardiovascular complications and CKD progression than standard office BP. The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is thought to modulate diurnal hemodynamic changes and the vascular endothelium plays a fundamental role in BP regulation. We hypothesized that SNS overactivity and endothelial dysfunction in CKD are linked to elevated nocturnal BP and non‐dipping. In 32 CKD patients with hypertension (56 ± 7 years), office BP, 24‐hr ambulatory BP, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and endothelial function via flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) were measured. Participants were subsequently divided into dippers (nighttime average BP > 10% lower than the daytime average BP, n = 8) and non‐dippers (n = 24). Non‐dippers had higher nighttime BP (p < .05), but not office and daytime BP, compared to dippers. MSNA burst incidence (81 ± 13 versus 67 ± 13 bursts/100 HR, p = .019) was higher and brachial artery FMD (1.7 ± 1.5 versus 4.7 ± 1.9%, p < .001) was lower in non‐dippers compared to dippers. MSNA and FMD each predicted nighttime systolic (β = 0.48,‐0.46, p = .02, 0.07, respectively) and diastolic BP (β = 0.38,‐0.47, p = .04, 0.03, respectively) in multivariate‐adjusted analyses. Our novel findings demonstrate that unfavorable nocturnal BP profiles are associated with elevated SNS activity and endothelial dysfunction in CKD. Specifically, CKD patients with higher nighttime BP and the non‐dipping pattern have higher MSNA and lower FMD. These support our hypothesis that SNS overactivation and endothelial dysfunction are linked to the dysregulation of nighttime BP as well as the magnitude of BP lowering at nighttime in CKD.

Maternal History of Adverse Childhood Experiences and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Pregnancy.

This study aimed to study the association between maternal history of childhood adversity and blood pressure in pregnancy. A total of 127 pregnant women completed measures of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and prenatal stress between June 2015 and April 2019. At 11 weeks' gestation (range, 6-17 weeks), we measured 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure. All women were considered to be at risk for pregnancy complications due to elevated body mass index and self-reporting snoring in pregnancy. Women were, on average, 30 years old (range, 19-40 years), and average (standard deviation) body mass index in this sample was 34 (7) kg/m (range, 27-55 kg/m). Higher ACE scores were associated with higher nighttime blood pressure (systolic blood pressure: β = 0.23, p = .013; diastolic blood pressure: β = 0.22, p = .028). There were no significant associations between the ACE score and daytime blood pressure. Women with four or more ACEs were more likely to display nocturnal blood pressure nondipping (odds ratio = 3.97, 95% confidence interval = 1.38-11.40). Associations between ACE and nocturnal blood pressure remained significant after adjusting for symptoms of prenatal stress. Results indicate that experiences of childhood adversity are associated with elevated nocturnal blood pressure and loss of a typical decline in blood pressure between day and night.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure at Sea Level and High Altitude in a Climber with a Kidney Transplant and Hypertension

Background and Objectives: High altitude may increase blood pressure (BP) and the kidney plays an important role in acclimatization. Little is known about how transplanted kidneys respond to the hypoxic stress at high altitude. We compared 24 hour ambulatory BP in a climber with a kidney transplant and hypertension at sea level and at high altitude (2860-4300 m). Methods: Welch-Allyn ABPM 6100 monitor was used to collect heart rate, systolic BP (SBP), and diastolic BP every 30 minutes while awake, and hourly while asleep. BP was monitored for 49 hours at sea level and for 53 hours at 2860-4300 m. Results: Overall mean SBP did not differ between altitudes. At high altitude, the participant's mean nocturnal BP increased, but this "reverse dipping" pattern was not observed at sea level. The participant had no evidence of altitude illness or infectious complications at high altitude. Conclusions: This case builds on previous reports that kidney transplant recipients may safely travel to high altitude. Further study is required to determine the generalizability to other travelers with kidney transplant and/or underlying hypertension, and the clinical significance of short-term elevated nocturnal BP at high altitude.

Telemonitoring of 24-Hour Blood Pressure in Local Pharmacies and Blood Pressure Control in the Community: The Templar Project.

The analysis of ambulatory blood pressure monitorings (ABPMs) performed in 639 Italian pharmacies in the context of a telehealth-based service allowed to evaluate the level of blood pressure (BP) control in the community. Twenty-four-hour ABPMs were performed by a clinically validated, automated, upper-arm BP monitor. Recordings were uploaded on a certified web-based telemedicine platform (www.tholomeus.net) and remote medical reporting provided. In each subject, an automatic BP measurement was obtained in the pharmacy and clinical information collected before starting the ABPM. A total of 20,773 subjects (mean age 57 ± 15 years; 54% females; 28% receiving antihypertensive medications, 31% with any cardiovascular [CV] risk factor) provided valid ABPMs. BP control was poor, but better in ambulatory conditions (24-hour BP <130/80 mm Hg 54% vs. pharmacy BP < 140/90 mm Hg 43%; P < 0.0001) and in drug-treated subjects. Sustained normotension was reported in only 28% subjects. Isolated nocturnal hypertension (16%; nighttime BP ≥120/70 mm Hg with normal daytime BP) was more common (P < 0.0001) than isolated daytime hypertension (9%; daytime BP ≥ 135/85 mm Hg with normal nighttime BP). Sustained hypertension (43%) was more common in younger males at the lowest CV risk, with daytime hypertension. White-coat hypertension (14%) was more common in females. Masked hypertension was not uncommon (15%) and more often observed in older males with an elevated nocturnal BP. A telemedicine-based service provided to community pharmacies may facilitate access to ABPM, thus favoring a more accurate hypertension screening and detection. It may also help describe the occurrence of different 24-hour BP phenotypes and personalize the physician's intervention.

Excessive umbilical cord coiling confers risk of elevated nocturnal blood pressure and severe/early-onset preeclampsia

The associations between umbilical cord coiling, feto-placental vascular resistance and maternal blood pressure (BP) are not well understood. We retrospectively analyzed 502 pregnant women suspected of hypertensive disorders in the third trimester from a hospital-based cohort, who underwent ambulatory BP monitoring and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry examinations within 14 days before delivery. By applying quantile regression, a significant quantile-dependent positive association between umbilical cord coiling index and umbilical artery pulsatility index (UAPIMOM; converted to multiples of median) was observed from above 0.75th quantiles for each parameter. Using the cutoffs both at the 0.75th quantile to define high umbilical cord coiling (≥0.28 coils/cm) and high UAPIMOM (≥1.30), respectively, a graded increase in BP level was observed from patients with both low, either high and both high categories. Multivariate linear and quantile regression revealed that the high umbilical cord coiling/high UAPIMOM interaction was significantly correlated with night-time mean DBP level. Moreover, umbilical cord hypercoiling (≥0.3 coils/cm) was significantly correlated with night-time DBP with an average increase of ∼5 mmHg from the 0.05th to 0.70th quantiles and independently predicted the occurrence of severe (odds ratio 2.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.22-4.41) and early-onset (odds ratio 2.43, 95% confidence interval: 1.18-4.97) preeclampsia after adjusting for covariates. Further mediation analysis showed that elevated high UAPIMOM (≥1.30) could explain 11.4% of the umbilical cord hypercoiling → high night-time DBP association. Therefore, this retrospective study identifies excessive umbilical cord coiling, and its interaction with increased feto-placental vascular resistance, as novel risk factors for nocturnal BP elevation and preeclampsia.

A5082 Excessive Umbilical Cord Coiling Confers Risk of Elevated Nocturnal Blood Pressure and Severe/Early-Onset Preeclampsia

Objectives: To investigate the associations between umbilical cord (UC) coiling, feto-placental vascular resistance and maternal blood pressure (BP) during pregnancy. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 502 pregnant women suspected of hypertensive disorders in the third trimester from a hospital-based cohort, who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry examinations within 14 days before delivery. Results: By applying quantile regression, a significant quantile-dependent positive association between UC coiling index and umbilical artery pulsatility index (UAPIMOM; converted to multiples of median) was observed from above 0.75th quantiles for each parameter. Using the cutoffs both at the 0.75th quantile to define high UC coiling ( ≥ 0.28 coils/cm) and high UAPIMOM ( ≥ 1.30), respectively, a graded increase in BP level was observed from patients with both low, either high and both high categories. Multivariate linear and quantile regression revealed that the high UC coiling/high UAPIMOM interaction was significantly correlated with nighttime mean diastolic BP level. Moreover, UC hypercoiling ( ≥ 0.3 coils/cm) was significantly correlated with nighttime diastolic BP with an average increase of ∼5 mmHg from the 0.05th to 0.70th quantiles and independently predicted the occurrence of severe (odds ratio 2.32, 95% CI: 1.22 to 4.41) and early-onset (odds ratio 2.43, 95% CI: 1.18 to 4.97) preeclampsia after adjusting for covariates. Further mediation analysis showed that elevated high UAPIMOM ( ≥ 1.30) could explain 12.2% of the UC hypercoiling → high nighttime DBP association. Conclusion: The present work identifies excessive UC coiling, and its interaction with increased feto-placental vascular resistance, as novel risk factors for nocturnal BP elevation and preeclampsia.

CLINICAL PATTERNS OF STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL LEFT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH GOUT ASSOCIATED WITH ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Aim. To study the patterns of structural and functional left ventricular dysfunction in men with gout. Methods. 114 men with gout with either an intermittent course (n = 80, mean age 46.34±6.14 years) or chronic (n = 34, mean age 49.03± 5.66 years) were enrolled in the study. All patients underwent daily monitoring of blood pressure (DMBM), echocardiography (Echo-CG) with the further identification of the architectonic pattern of the left ventricle and estimation of diastolic function with the Doppler Echo-CG. Results. The main study group consisted of 98 patients (85.9%) with arterial hypertension. The comparison group was composed of 16 (14.1%) patients without elevated blood pressure (BP). Left ventricular dysfunction was found in 67.6% of patients with gout. Importantly, its prevalence increased with the presence of arterial hypertension and its course duration. 52% of men with gout associated with hypertension had concentric left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients with extreme-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure were more frequently found among normotonics (39.2% vs. 13.8%), whereas patients without nocturnal blood pressure dipping and nocturnal BP elevation (nondippers and night-peakers, 41.6% vs. 18.9%) among those suffering from arterial hypertension. Positive correlations between serum uric acid and the LV myocardial mass index (r = 0.32, p<0.05), left ventricular posterior wall thickness (r = 0.42, p<0.001) and interventricular septum thickness (r = 0,38, p<0.001), as well as between the mean daily readings of systolic blood pressure (r = 0.31, p<0.05), diurnal and nocturnal indices of systolic and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.29; p<0.05 and r = 0.33, p<0.001 and r = 0.29, p<0.05 and r = 0.41, p<0.001, respectively) have been found. Conclusion. The correlations between severe clinical course of gout, left ventricular remodeling pattern and alterations in its diastolic filling have been established. The presence of arterial hypertension contributes to the development of hemodynamically unfavorable left ventricular pattern, such as concentric hypertrophy, and pathological 24-hour blood pressure profile (nocturnal blood pressure elevation). Alterations of left ventricular diastolic filling interplay with left ventricular myocardial mass, left ventricular architectonic pattern and uric acid levels.

Ocena zależności pomiędzy dobowym profilem ciśnienia tętniczego a natriurezą u pacjentów z przewlekłą chorobą nerek oraz po przeszczepieniu nerki.

Introduction. The disturbed circadian rhythm of blood pressure (BP) is more prevalent in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Diminished renal capacity to excrete sodium may result in nocturnal BP elevation in order to enhance pressure natriuresis to compensate for impaired daytime natriuresis. We hypothesized that kidney transplantation (KTx) that restores glomerular filtration should normalize circadian BP profile. The aim of the study was to assess and compare natriuresis and circadian BP profiles of patients at different stages of CKD and KTx recipients. Material and methods. Blood pressure was monitored noninvasively for 24 hours and urinary samples were collected during the daytime and night-time to measure natriuresis among 55 patients with stable graft or kidney function: 41 with CKD and 14 patients after KTx. Results. Mean awake systolic blood pressure (SBP) was lower in KTx recipients than in CKD at all stages. Night-time mean BP was lowest in CKD patients with eGFR > 45 ml/min (126/68 mmHg vs. KTx 130/75 mmHg; p = 0.005). The prevalence of dipper status was also highest in CKD patients with eGFR > 45 ml/min. 50% vs. 8.3% (CKD 3b), 0% (CKD 4–5) and 7.1% (KTx) (p 60 ml/min, whereas reverse dipping profile only in those with eGFR Conclusions. Kidney transplantation improves blood pressure control and reduces a number of antihypertensive drugs used. Normal circadian rhythm could be restored only in the transplant patients with well-functioning renal graft.

Circadian blood pressure characteristics in hospitalized unstable angina pectoris patients with hypertension

Objective: To define the characteristic of circadian rhythm of blood pressure in unstable angina pectoris (UAP)patients with hypertension and its effects on the cardiovascular events. Methods: It was a prospective study.Based on coronary angiographic results, 742 consecutive hospitalized UAP patients with hypertension and 89 consecutive hospitalized hypertensive patients were recruited between September 2014 and December 2015 in this study. Clinical data and the results of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) were analyzed. Results: The total prevalence of hypertension in UAP is about 77.1%(742/962) in our cohort. The decrease of night-time systolic and diastolic blood pressure in UAP patients complicated with hypertension was lower than that in hypertensive patients (P<0.05). The prevalence of dipper, non-dipper and reverse dipper pattern was 12.4%(92/742), 34.9%(259/742) and 52.7%(391/742) in UAP patients complicated with hypertension, 18.0%(16/89), 48.3%(43/89) and 33.7%(30/89) in hypertensive patients. Obviously, the abnormal circadian rhythm of blood pressure was more significant in UAP patients with hypertension than in hypertensive patients, characterized by higher reverse dipper pattern in UAP patients with hypertension compared to patients with hypertension(P=0.00), similar results were evidenced among the male and female patients and patients with various ages. Subgroup analysis showed that except similar results on the incidence of reverse dipper pattern in controlled blood pressure aged less than 45 years old, the incidence of reverse dipper pattern was all significantly higher in UAP patients complicating with hypertension than in hypertensive patients independent no matter blood pressure controlled or not (all P<0.05). After adjustment for sex, age, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and other risk factors, binary logistic regression analysis showed that reverse dipper pattern was independently associated with UAP(OR=1.53, 95%CI 1.12-2.61). Conclusions: This finding suggests that UAP patients with hypertension often have abnormal circadian rhythm, characterized by higher reverse dipper circadian pattern. Elevated nocturnal blood pressure is independently related to UAP.

Combined effects of FTO rs9939609 and MC4R rs17782313 on elevated nocturnal blood pressure in the Chinese Han population.

SummaryAimIn this study we investigated the association of FTO rs9939609 and MC4R. rs17782313 with elevated blood pressure in the Chinese Han population, and analysed the relationship between the rs9939609 and rs17782313 variants.MethodsWe tested the rs9939609 and rs17782313 variants with the sequence-retrieval method.ResultsThe increase in odds ratios of the A allele of rs9939609 and the C allele of rs17782313 for nocturnal blood pressure were 1.37 and 1.69. The nocturnal blood pressure of participants simultaneously carrying the A and C alleles was significantly higher than the blood pressure of those carrying neither FTO nor MC4R risk alleles (p < 0.05), and that of the controls carrying only the A or C alleles (p < 0.05). No association between the FTO or MC4R genes with daytime hypertension was found in this Chinese population (p > 0.05).ConclusionOur data suggest that the rs9939609 and rs17782313 variants may be significantly associated with nocturnal but not daytime blood pressure levels and their combined effects were significant in this Chinese Han population.

Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients, Cardiovascular Risk Profile and the Prevalence of Masked Uncontrolled Hypertension (MUCH).

Introduction:The term masked hypertension (MH) should be used for untreated individuals who have normal office blood pressure but elevated ambulatory blood pressure. For treated patients, this condition should be termed masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH).Research Objectives:Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) has gone unrecognized because few studies have used 24-h ABPM to determine the prevalence of suboptimal BP control in seemingly well-treated patients, and there are few such studies in large cohorts of treated patients attending usual clinical practice. This is important because masked hypertension is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular events. This study was conducted to obtain more information about the association between hypertension and other CV risk factors, about office and ambulatory blood pressure (BP) control as well as on cardiovascular (CV) risk profile in treated hypertensive patients, also to define the prevalence and characteristics of masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) among treated hypertensive patients in routine clinical practice.Patients and methods:In this study 2514 male and female patients were included during a period of 5 years follow up. All patients have ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for at least 24h. We identified patients with treated and controlled BP according to current international guidelines (clinic BP, 140/90mmHg). Cardiovascular risk assessment was based on personal history, clinic BP values, as well as target organ damage evaluation. Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) was diagnosed in these patients if despite controlled clinic BP, the mean 24-h ABPM average remained elevated (24-h systolic BP ≥130mmHg and/or 24-h diastolic BP ≥80mmHg).Results:Patients had a mean age of 60.2+10 years, and the majority of them (94.6%) were followed by specialist physicians. Average clinic BP was 150.4+16/89.9+12 mmHg. About 70% of patients displayed a very high-risk profile. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed in all recruited patients for at least 24h. Despite the combined medical treatment (78% of the patients), clinic control (<140/90 mmHg) was achieved in only 26.2% of patients, the corresponding control rate for ambulatory BP (<130/80 mmHg) being 32.7%. From 2514 patients with treated BP, we identified 803 with treated and controlled office BP control (<140/90 mmHg), of whom 258 patients (32.1%) had MUCH according to 24-h ABPM criteria (mean age 57.2 years, 54.7% men). The prevalence of MUCH was slightly higher in males, patients with borderline clinic and office BP (130–139/80–89 mmHg), and patients at high cardiovascular risk (smokers, diabetes, obesity). Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) was most often due to poor control of nocturnal BP, with the proportion of patients in whom MUCH was solely attributable to an elevated nocturnal BP almost double that solely attributable to daytime BP elevation (22.3 vs. 10.1%, P 0.001).Conclusion:The prevalence of masked suboptimal BP control in patients with treated and well-controlled clinic BP is high. The characteristics of patients with MUCH (male, longer duration of hypertension, obesity, smoking history, and diabetes) indicate that this is a higher-risk group with most to gain from improved BP.

Prognosis in Relation to Blood Pressure Variability

Prognosis in Relation to Blood Pressure Variability