Blood pressure increases during a simulated night shift in persons at risk for hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Shift work with sleep disruption is a systemic stressor that may possibly be associated with blood pressure dysregulation and hypertension.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesize that rotation to a simulated night shift with sleep deprivation will produce blood pressure elevations in persons at risk for development of hypertension.


METHODS
We examined the effects of a simulated night shift on resting blood pressure in 51 diurnal young adults without current hypertension. Resting blood pressure was monitored throughout a 24-h period of total sleep deprivation with sustained cognitive work. Twelve participants (23.5%) reported one or more parents with a diagnosis of hypertension. Ten participants were classified as prehypertensive by JNC-7 criteria. Only two prehypertensive subjects reported parental hypertension.


RESULTS
Results indicate that, as the night shift progressed, participants with a positive family history of hypertension showed significantly higher resting diastolic blood pressure than those with a negative family history of hypertension (p = 0.007). Prehypertensive participants showed elevated blood pressure throughout the study.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that rotation to a simulated night shift with sleep deprivation may contribute to blood pressure dysregulation in persons with a positive family history of hypertension.
McCubbin
James A
JA
Department of Psychology, Clemson University, 319-B Brackett Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA. jmccubb@clemson.edu
Pilcher
June J
JJ
Moore
D DeWayne
DD
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult