title: Nocturnal Hypertension and Subclinical Cardiac and Carotid Damage: An Updated Review and Meta-Analysis of Echocardiographic Studies.
abstract: Evidence on the association of nocturnal hypertension (NH) with subclinical cardiac and vascular damage is scanty. The authors performed a meta-analysis to provide comprehensive information on this clinically relevant issue. Full articles providing data on subclinical cardiac and carotid damage as assessed by ultrasonographic methods in patients with NH as compared with patients with nocturnal normotension (NN) were considered. A total of 3657 patients (NH=2083, NN=1574) of both sexes were included in seven studies. Left ventricular mass index was higher in individuals with NH than in those with NN (112±4.7 g/m(2) vs 98±4.8 g/m(2) ; standard mean difference [SMD], 0.54±0.16; confidence interval [CI], 0.23-0.85; P<.01). Similarly, common carotid intima-media thickness was greater in patients with NH than in those with NN (751±34 μm vs 653±14 μm; SMD, 0.44±0.08; CI, 0.29-0.59; P<.01). The present meta-analysis shows an association between NH pattern and increased likelihood of cardiac and carotid structural alterations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy. cesare.cuspidi@unimib.it.|Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy. cesare.cuspidi@unimib.it.
authors.forename: Cesare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cuspidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano and Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.affiliation: University Clinical Hospital Centre "Dragisa Misovic", Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Marijana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tadic
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milano and Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gherbesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.|Istituto di Ricerche a Carattere Scientifico Multimedica, Sesto San Giovanni, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.affiliation: Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mancia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors