Factors affecting the difference between morning and evening home blood pressure: the Finn-Home study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of home morning and evening blood pressure (BP) differences in general population.


METHODS
We studied a representative sample of the general Finnish adult population with 1919 study subjects, aged 41-74 years. Study subjects underwent a clinical interview, clinical examination and home BP measurement (28 measurements performed twice in the morning and in the evening during 7 consecutive days).


RESULTS
In untreated hypertensive subjects, systolic home BP was lower in the morning than in the evening while no difference was detected for diastolic home BP (137.7/85.1 vs 141.5/85.2 mmHg, p < 0.001/0.64). In treated hypertensive subjects, the difference between systolic morning and evening BP was smaller (136.2 vs 137.1 mmHg, p = 0.023) and diastolic morning BP was even higher than evening BP (83.3 vs 82.1 mmHg, p < 0.001). In the univariate analysis, higher home BP and higher body mass index were associated with relatively higher morning BP compared with evening BP. In addition, men, excessive alcohol users, subjects with cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and subjects using antihypertensive medication had relatively higher morning BP compared with evening BP. In the multivariate analysis, male gender, excessive alcohol consumption, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea and use of antihypertensive medication were independent determinants of elevated morning BP compared with evening BP.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the underlying causes affecting morning and evening home BP difference in patients facilitates physicians to make rational antihypertensive medication and lifestyle adjustments, such as examining probable sleep disorder, and give alcohol and cardiovascular disease prevention counseling.
Johansson
Jouni K
JK
Population Studies Unit, Department of Chronic Disease Prevention, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Peltolantie 3, Turku, Finland. jouni.johansson@utu.fi
Niiranen
Teemu J
TJ
Puukka
Pauli J
PJ
Jula
Antti M
AM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D057285:Precision Medicine; D012737:Sex Factors; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents