ABPM in COPD patients with sleep desaturation.
BACKGROUND
Sleep hypoxemia may change blood pressure by sympathetic activation. Few studies have analyzed blood pressure parameters in COPD patients who do not present sleep apnea, but do present sleep desaturation.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze blood pressure parameters in COPD patients with sleep desaturation not caused by apnea.


METHODS
Thirteen patients with COPD underwent spirometry, blood gas, polysomnography and ABPM for blood pressure evaluation. Fourteen patients without COPD underwent spirometry, oximetry and ABPM. Blood pressure analyses were carried out both during wakefulness and sleep. Both groups were comprised of patients with no history of hypertension.


RESULTS
The two groups were similar as regards age, height, weight, and body mass index. A significant difference (p<0.05) was found between blood pressure levels during the wakefulness, sleep, 24-hour and sleep dip periods. Higher blood pressure levels were observed in patients with COPD, except for diastolic levels during wakefulness and maximum values during sleep and in the 24 hours. Sleep dip in the COPD group was attenuated, whereas physiological dip was observed in the control group, with lower blood pressure levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in the COPD group were higher than those of the control group, with a significant difference found for all periods studied, except for diastolic levels during wakefulness and in the 24 hours. We can conclude that the group of COPD patients with sleep desaturation has significantly higher blood pressure levels than the control group.
Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil. naaidar@cardiol.br
Neila Anders
NA
Aidar
Márcio Alberto Carvalho da
MA
Silva
César Augusto
CA
Melo e Silva
Pedro Nery
PN
Ferreira Júnior
Paulo
P
Tavares
D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013147:Spirometry