Features of interrelation of the structural state of brachiocephalic arteries in middle-aged and elderly patients with characteristics of the daily profile of blood pressure in patients with essential arterial hypertension stage II.

Abstract

The aim of our study was to evaluate the interrelation of the structural state of brachiocephalic arteries with the characteristics of the daily profile of blood pressure (BP) in middle-aged and elderly patients with essential arterial hypertension stage II. The study included 74 untreated middle-aged (n=46) and elderly (n=28) patients with essential uncomplicated hypertension, which were divided into two groups depending on age. By risk factors, degree of arterial hypertension patients did not differ significantly. In group I, a significantly higher prevalence of stenotic atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries was found in comparison with the patients of group II. In elderly patients with stenotic carotid artery atherosclerosis, a significantly higher level of systolic blood pressure (BP) was established at night time. The increase of carotid intima media thickness in patients with impaired circadian BP rhythm was associated with the insufficient degree of nocturnal decrease in systolic BP. The degree of carotid arteries stenosis in patients with preserved daily BP rhythm was associated with the increasing of systolic BP level at night time, of pulse BP level within 24 hours, and an insufficient decrease in diastolic BP at night time.

Keywords

• carotid intima media thickness
• atherosclerosis
• arterial hypertension
• circadian rhythm of blood pressure
• elderly age