title: Antihypertensive drug treatment and circadian blood pressure rhythm: a review of the role of chronotherapy in hypertension.
abstract: Elevated nighttime blood pressure (BP) and a reduced day-night BP fall ("nondipping" condition) are strong predictors of cardiovascular complications, both in hypertension and in the general population. A reduced or inverted nocturnal BP fall might also be theoretically used to define the most appropriate timing for drug administration. In a systematic review of the available evidence, we show that bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medication reduces nocturnal BP and increases day-night BP fall more than standard morning dosing. The effects of such an approach on average 24-hour BP are more modest and less univocal, with a considerable between-center heterogeneity. Admittedly, the mechanisms underlying non-dipping condition have not been fully understood yet, and it is still a matter of debate whether restorating a dipping pattern may reduce the cardiovascular risk associated with non-dipping independently from the effects on 24-hour BP. Under this regard, evidence from a single trial strongly suggests that bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medications may greatly reduce cardiovascular morbidity in hypertensive patients. The provocative results of that trial deserve to be explored further in larger intervention trials.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schillaci
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Battista
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Settimi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schillaci
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina, Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Unita di Medicina Interna, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Terni, piazzale Tristano di Joannuccio, 1, IT- 05100 Terni, Italy. giuseppe.schillaci@unipg.it.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pucci
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D019454:Chronotherapy; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents