Ethnic differences in the hemodynamic mechanisms of ambulatory blood pressure regulation.
BACKGROUND
African Americans typically exhibit greater systemic vascular resistance (SVR) than do white individuals in response to laboratory challenges that raise blood pressure (BP). However, ethnic differences in ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) regulation have not been examined.


METHODS
We monitored ABP in a sample of 10 African American and 10 white men and women. Ambulatory cardiac impedance monitoring was used to assess cardiac output and SVR concurrently with each ABP reading.


RESULTS
We found that SVR was a significant predictor of daily ABP variations in African Americans (P <.01) but not in whites.


CONCLUSIONS
For African Americans, SVR may play a more prominent role than for whites in the regulation of ABP during routine daily activities.
Sherwood
Andrew
A
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. sherw002@mc.duke.edu
Hughes
Joel W
JW
McFetridge
Judy
J
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002307:Cardiography, Impedance; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D011379:Prognosis; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D044465:White People