A blood pressure measurement may depend on the time of the day lead to very different results. Is measured only during the day, rest high blood pressure unknown to most of those concerned.
In a retrospective cohort study conducted by experts from the University of Oxford reviewed the importance of measuring nighttime blood pressure in the diagnosis of hypertension. The results are in the “British Journal of General Medicine“published.
Systolic Blood Pressure Phenotypes Studied
Researchers assessed blood pressure data two cohort studies one of which included people who were treated in hospital and the other group included participants of the so-called BP-Eth study existed, the data of which was collected in the practices of general practitioners.
The team analyzed blood pressure data from participants in both cohorts, with a particular focus on three systolic blood pressure phenotypes. These examined phenotypes carry the designation Pendulum, non-pendulum and inverted pendulumexplain the experts.
When people fall into the category of divers, their blood pressure at night is lower than during the day. Non-divers are people for whom there are no major differences between nighttime and daytime blood pressure readings. And reverse divers are people whose blood pressure is higher at night than during the day, the team said.
About half of the inverted ladle
Researchers report that about half of participants in the hospital group had blood pressure that rose overnight, making them reverse divers. Among participants in the other group, the proportion of inverted divers was approximately 11 percent located.
The clear difference between the groups could also be influenced by the fact that in the second group there was a much higher proportion of people who already diagnosed with high blood pressure became. The team explains that these people are more likely to be divers than reverse divers.
Nocturnal increase in blood pressure is not uncommon
According to the results of the study, at least ten percent of adults – probably much more – are affected by an increase in blood pressure at night, with fluctuations in values averaging 8.5 mmHg.
Is used in affected individuals in a medical exam If blood pressure is checked during the day, then it may be significantly lower than at night and existing high blood pressure may go undiagnosed.
Stroke and heart failure due to nocturnal high blood pressure
According to the team, well-founded research results were already available which higher risk of cardiovascular disease such as strokes, heart failure and premature death in inverted divers.
The new data analysis clearly showed that at least one in three people from the reverse ladle category below at least one cardiovascular disease suffered.
Overall, the study shows that daytime blood pressure measurements are not enough. Therefore, as part of medical examination for high blood pressure a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring conducted to identify people classified as reverse divers, the research team said. (as)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the requirements of the specialized medical literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been verified by health professionals.
Sources:
Laura Catherine Armitage, Shaun Davidson, Adam Mahdi, Mirae Harford, Richard McManus, et al. : Diagnosing hypertension in primary care: the importance of nocturnal blood pressure assessment; in: British Journal of General Practice (published 13.09.2022), British Journal of General Medicine
University of Oxford: Nocturnal blood pressure assessment proves important in the diagnosis of hypertension (23/09/2022), University of Oxford
Important note: This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. It cannot substitute a visit to the doctor.
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