[Nocturnal drop of arterial blood pressure: determinant factors and relationship with organic damage secondary to hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the night-time drop in blood pressure in patients with light hypertension and to determine its possible relationship with damage in key organs.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Eight urban health centres.


METHODS
Four hundred and eighteen adults with light-moderate hypertension.


METHODS
a) Blood pressure reading on three visits; b) ambulatory monitoring of pressure for 24 hours; c) echocardiograph (in 219 patients); d) albuminuria determination (in 134 patients). A night-time drop in blood pressure was defined as the difference between day and night ambulatory pressures; and relative drop, as the night-time pressure drop as a percentage of the day-time pressure.


RESULTS
Night-time drop in systolic and diastolic pressures was 13.6 (10.7) and 12.1 (8.6) mmHg, respectively. The predictive factors of night-time drop in blood pressure were, directly, daily ambulatory blood pressure (p < 0.05) and female gender (p < 0.05) and, inversely, age (p < 0.05). No association was observed between night-time drop in blood pressure and left ventricular mass. Only in women was an independent relationship found, inversely, between night-time drop in blood pressure and urinary excretion of albumin (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Relative night-time drop in blood pressure is greater in women than in men, diminishes with age and depends on the day-time ambulatory pressure. In women a minor night-time drop in blood pressure is associated with greater organic damage.
Cabrera Vélez
R
R
Unidad de Investigación del Area 5 de Madrid (Atención Primaria y Hospital La Paz), Madrid.
Martínez López
M A
MA
Torre Carballada
A
A
Aguirre de Cárcer Escolano
A
A
Seguido Aliaga
P
P
Sáenz del Castillo
I
I
Polo Gómez
E
E
Alcaide Martín
M J
MJ
García Puig
J
J
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors
Descenso nocturno de la presión arterial: factores determinantes y relación con daño orgánico secundario a hipertensión.