PLoS ONE (Jan 2014)

Predictors of mean arterial pressure morning rate of rise and power function in subjects undergoing ambulatory blood pressure recording.

  • Geoffrey A Head,
  • Nick Andrianopoulos,
  • Barry P McGrath,
  • Catherine A Martin,
  • Melinda J Carrington,
  • Elena V Lukoshkova,
  • Pamela J Davern,
  • Garry L Jennings,
  • Christopher M Reid

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0093186
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 3
p. e93186

Abstract

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BackgroundWe determined clinical predictors of the rate of rise (RoR) in blood pressure in the morning as well as a novel measure of the power of the BP surge (BP(power)) derived from ambulatory blood pressure recordings.MethodsBP(power) and RoR were calculated from 409 ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) recordings from subjects attending a cardiovascular risk clinic. Anthropometric data, blood biochemistry, and history were recorded. The 409 subjects were 20-82 years old (average 57, SD = 13), 46% male, 9% with hypertension but not on medication and 34% on antihypertensive medication.ResultsAverage RoR was 11.1 mmHg/hour (SD = 8) and BP(power) was 273 mmHg(2)/hour (SD = 235). Only cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and body mass index (BMI) were associated with higher BP(power) and RoR (PConclusionsCholesterol is an independent predictor of a greater and more rapid rise in morning BP as well as of further increases over several years. Reduction of cholesterol with statin therapy is very effective in reducing the morning blood pressure surge.