Prevalence of nocturnal hypoxaemia amongst men with mild to moderate hypertension.
Thirty men (aged 35-65) with untreated essential hypertension (BP greater than or equal to 140/90), confirmed by 24-h ambulatory monitoring, had overnight recordings of arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) in their own homes. The overnight saturation records were compared with those from a group of 30 normotensive control subjects matched for age, height and weight. The groups did not exhibit significant differences in any of the following parameters of overnight oxygenation: median SaO2, lowest SaO2 or frequency of 3 or 4 per cent dips in SaO2. We conclude that essential hypertension is not associated with excessive arterial hypoxaemia such as might be due to a sleep apnoea syndrome.
Warley
A R
AR
Osler Chest Unit, Churchill Hospital, Oxford.
Mitchell
J H
JH
Stradling
J R
JR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged