Effects of Nighttime Alcohol Intake on Evening and Next Morning Home Blood Pressure in Japanese Normotensives

Difference in evening home blood pressure between before dinner and at bedtime in Japanese elderly hypertensive patients

The authors evaluated the differences between evening home blood pressure (HBP) readings taken before dinner and those taken at bedtime, which were documented in a European and a Japanese guideline, respectively. Forty-eight patients (mean age, 76.4 years) measured their evening HBP twice each day (two measurements both before dinner and at bedtime) for 14 days. The authors defined the at-bedtime (B) minus the before-dinner (D) systolic HBP as the B-D difference. The mean B-D difference was -8.7 mm Hg (P<.001). The depressor effect of bathing was significantly prolonged for 120 minutes. The B-D difference with alcohol consumption was significantly greater than that without alcohol. In the linear mixed model analysis, time after bathing ≤120 minutes and alcohol consumption were significantly associated with the B-D difference after adjustment with covariates. There was a marked difference between evening HBP values. When patients' evening HBP is measured according to the guidelines, their daily activities should be considered.

Determinants of the Morning-Evening Home Blood Pressure Difference in Treated Hypertensives: The HIBA-Home Study

Background. The morning home blood pressure (BP) rise is a significant asymptomatic target organ damage predictor in hypertensives. Our aim was to evaluate determinants of home-based morning-evening difference (MEdiff) in Argentine patients. Methods. Treated hypertensive patients aged ≥18 years participated in a cross-sectional study, after performing home morning and evening BP measurement. MEdiff was morning minus evening home average results. Variables identified as relevant predictors were entered into a multivariable linear regression analysis model. Results. Three hundred sixty-seven medicated hypertensives were included. Mean age was 66.2 (14.5), BMI 28.1 (4.5), total cholesterol 4.89 (1.0) mmol/L, 65.9% women, 11.7% smokers, and 10.6% diabetics. Mean MEdiff was 1.1 (12.5) mmHg systolic and 2.3 (6.1) mmHg diastolic, respectively. Mean self-recorded BP was 131.5 (14.1) mmHg systolic and 73.8 (7.6) mmHg diastolic, respectively. Mean morning and evening home BPs were 133.1 (16.5) versus 132 (15.7) systolic and 75.8 (8.4) versus 73.5 (8.2) diastolic, respectively. Significant beta-coefficient values were found in systolic MEdiff for age and smoking and in diastolic MEdiff for age, smoking, total cholesterol, and calcium-channel blockers. Conclusions. In a cohort of Argentine medicated patients, older age, smoking, total cholesterol, and use of calcium channel blockers were independent determinants of home-based MEdiff.

Variability of home blood pressure measurements between first and second measurements on one occasion, and factors related to variability

The number of home blood pressure (BP) measurements on one occasion has continued to be discussed. Therefore, we evaluated the variability of the first and second measurements on one occasion. The subjects except hypertensive patients (393 males, 212 females; mean age 38.7 y) were recruited from one company. Home blood pressure was measured with a semiautomatic device, and subjects were instructed to perform triplicate morning and evening measurements on 7 consecutive days. The standard deviation of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was significantly greater in the first measurement than in the second measurement, but there was no significant difference in standard deviation of diastolic blood pressure. As for the coefficient of variation (CV), CV of morning SBP alone was significantly greater in the first measurement (5.3% ± 0.1%) than in the second measurement (4.9% ± 0.1%). Therefore, factors related to CV of morning SBP in the first measurement were studied, which indicated that it was significantly greater in smokers (5.8% ± 0.1%) than in nonsmokers (5.2% ± 0.1%), and in women (5.6% ± 0.1%) than in men (5.2% ± 0.1%). In conclusion, CV of morning SBP was significantly greater in the first measurement than in the second measurement. The coefficient of variation of morning SBP in the first measurement might be influenced to some extent by the presence or absence of smoking habit and gender. Therefore, physicians should pay special attention to the above-mentioned fact in the future.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities and home blood pressure in treated elderly hypertensive patients: Japan home versus office blood pressure measurement evaluation in the elderly (J-HOME-Elderly) study

This study compares relationships between each of morning home blood pressure (BP), evening home BP and office BP with electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among treated hypertensive Japanese patients. We defined ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as Sokolow-Lyon voltage and/or Cornell voltage duration product. Abnormal T waves and ST segment depression were categorized based on the Minnesota code. Office BP was calculated as the mean of four readings taken during two visits. Morning and evening home BP were calculated as the mean of five readings measured once each morning and evening for 5 days, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that ECG-LVH in 747 hypertensives (mean age: 72 years; women: 63%) was more closely associated with morning home BP than with either office or evening home BP. Even the first reading of morning home BP on day 1 was significantly associated with ECG-LVH independently of office BP. The association between home BP and ECG-LVH increased with the cumulative number of home BP measurements. The results for abnormal T waves were similar. Home and office BP did not significantly differ between patients with and without ST segment depression. Morning home BP was more closely associated with ECG-LVH and abnormal T waves than either office or evening home BP among treated hypertensive Japanese patients.

Zigzagged augmentation index in diabetes

Although the patients with diabetic nephropathy suffered high cardiovascular risk, augmentation index (AI) in diabetic nephropathy has been poorly characterized. Cross-sectional studies were performed on 26 diabetic and 27 nondiabetic nephropathic patients. Home blood pressure was examined. In addition, blood pressure, pulse rate, and AI were measured in both supine and sitting positions. Patient backgrounds such as age, sex, sitting blood pressure, and pulse rate were similar between two groups. Circadian variations of home blood pressure were preserved in nondiabetic patients, but disappeared in diabetes. Changing from supine to sitting position induced greater decrements of systolic blood pressure (DeltaSBP -9 +/- 8 mmHg) and AI (DeltaAI -7 +/- 10) in the diabetic group than in nondiabetic patients (DeltaSBP -4 +/- 12 mmHg, DeltaAI -2 +/- 9). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that AI in a sitting position correlated positively to SBP and inversely to pulse rate. Of interest, AI in supine position related positively to age, the presence of diabetes and SBP, and inversely to pulse rate. The present data indicate autonomic dysfunction in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Furthermore, our findings provide the evidence that autonomic dysfunction elicits an inadequate physiological arterial contraction in response to postural change, thereby reducing AI that results in the fall of SBP. Finally, the present results suggest that AI in supine, but not sitting position, is suited for detecting cardiovascular risk in diabetes.

Home and Office Blood Pressure Control among Treated Hypertensive Patients in Japan: Findings from the Japan Home versus Office Blood Pressure Measurement Evaluation (J-HOME) Study

Appropriate control of blood pressure (BP) is essential for prevention of future cardiovascular events. However, BP control among treated hypertensive patients has been insufficient. Recently, the usefulness of self-measured BP at home (home BP measurement) for the management of hypertension has been reported in many studies. We evaluated BP control both at home and in the office among treated hypertensive patients in primary care settings in Japan (the J-HOME study). We found poor control of home and office BPs and clarified some factors affecting control. We also examined factors associated with the magnitude of the white-coat effect, the morning–evening BP difference, and home heart rate in this J-HOME study.

Does short sleep duration in daily life affect morning home blood pressure? Evaluation in Japanese people

A short sleep duration is expected to elevate blood pressure the next morning, but no report has evaluated this in detail using home blood pressure measurement. In this study, the relation between sleep duration and morning and evening home blood pressure and heart rate during seven consecutive days was evaluated. From 630 volunteers not receiving antihypertensive agents, we selected 478 subjects (318 male, 160 female; mean age: 39.0 years) whose 2-7 days of data consisted of 7-8 hours sleep duration (proper sleep period phase; mean sleep duration: 7.3 +/- 0.3 hours) and less than 7 hours (short sleep period phase; 5.7 +/- 4.9 hours). In the morning, systolic blood pressure and heart rate in the short sleep period phase (117.7 +/- 14.9 mmHg, 67.3 +/- 9.6/min) were significantly (p < 0.01) higher than those in the proper sleep period phase (116.9 +/- 14.9 mmHg, 66.5 +/- 9.1/min). However, there was no difference in morning diastolic blood pressure. Although the difference in morning systolic blood pressure had disappeared by the time of measurement before going to bed, the difference in heart rate was maintained (proper sleep period phase: 70.4 +/- 10.2/min, short sleep period phase: 71.7 +/- 10.7/min, p < 0.01). In conclusion, days with sleep duration of less than 7 hours showed higher morning systolic blood pressure and heart rate compared with days with sleep duration between 7 and 8 hours, but no difference was found in diastolic blood pressure. Moreover, although the difference in morning systolic blood pressure had disappeared at night, the difference in heart rate was still maintained.

Reproducibility of masked hypertension determined from morning and evening home blood pressure measurements over a 6-month period

Recently, the existence of so-called masked hypertension has attracted attention. In this study, the reproducibility of masked hypertension determined from morning and evening home blood pressure measurements was examined over a 6-month period. Home blood pressure measurements were taken consecutively for 7 days in volunteers at a company in 2002 and again in 2003. The 503 Japanese subjects (329 male, 174 female, mean age: 39.4 years), who were not taking antihypertensive drugs, were asked to measure their home blood pressure three times every morning and three times every evening. We defined casual blood pressure > or =140 (systolic) or > or =90 (diastolic) mmHg and home blood pressure > or =135 or > or =85 mmHg as hypertension. We also defined normotension as <140 and <90 mmHg in casual blood pressure and <135 and <85 mmHg in home blood pressure. We examined the reproducibility of four blood pressure categories (normotension, hypertension, white-coat hypertension, and masked hypertension) over a 6-month period. When measured in morning home blood pressure, the reproducibility of masked hypertension (59.1%) was significantly higher than that of white-coat hypertension (25.0%) and similar to that of hypertension (67.6%). However, the reproducibility of masked hypertension (23.5%) was similar to that of white-coat hypertension (32.0%) and significantly lower than that of hypertension (66.7%) when determined using evening home blood pressure. The concordances in the four blood pressure categories between the two periods were 0.582 (kappa coefficient) and 0.463 when determined using morning and evening home blood pressure data, respectively. In conclusion, the reproducibility of masked hypertension over a 6-month period was moderate in an urban Japanese population when evaluated by morning home blood pressure.

Which measurement of home blood pressure should be used for clinical evaluation when multiple measurements are made?

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated which home blood pressure (BP) measurement was most useful in clinical evaluation when we measured it three times per sitting.

METHODS

Home BP measurements in the morning and evening were performed for 7 days in 572 volunteers (384 men, 188 women, mean age 41.2 years) in 2002 (period 1) and 2003 (period 2). Five sets of measurements were analyzed: A, mean of the first; B, mean of the second; C, mean of the first and second; D, mean of the second and third; and E, mean of all measurements. By analyzing BP in five sets in both periods, their reproducibility was examined.

RESULTS

For all five sets of measurements, little difference was found when BP readings were compared between both periods [the differences were -0.6 +/- 6.7 to -0.4 +/- 7.0 mmHg for morning systolic BP (SBP), 0 +/- 4.9 to 0.3 +/- 5.0 mmHg for morning diastolic BP (DBP), -0.1 +/- 7.1 to 0.1 +/- 7.0 mmHg for evening SBP, and 0.1 +/- 5.3 to 0.4 +/- 5.4 mmHg for evening DBP]. Furthermore, BP readings between both periods correlated well; the correlation coefficients were 0.90-0.92 for morning BP and 0.86-0.89 for evening BP. In addition, the concordance rates of three BP categories (normotension, borderline and hypertension) were excellent using morning home BP (kappa coefficient 0.64-0.68) in all five sets, and higher than those using evening home BP (0.52-0.57).

CONCLUSIONS

This study has shown that even one measurement on each occasion is as useful as several measurements when 7 consecutive days of home BP measurements are used for clinical evaluation.

Management of hypertension in diabetes mellitus

Overall, approximately 40% of diabetic patients have hypertension at the time of diagnosis of diabetes and a similar percentage may develop hypertension during their follow-up. Factors contributing to this high prevalance of hypertension in diabetes include obesity, old age, insulin resistance, increased extracelluar volume, diabetic nephropathy and increased arterial stiffness. Well-conducted clinical trials that have been completed in the last decade demonstrated a major impact of hypertension on the micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes and remarkable benefits of its control. Based on this large trial database, the currently accepted level of blood pressure used in diabetes for definition and target of therapy is 130/80 mmHg. Dietary and behavioral lifestyle modifications should be an intergral part of any management regimen. These include weight reduction, low sodium diet, exercise, moderate alcohol intake and smoking cessation. Effective control of blood pressure to target levels is more important than the drug(s) used. Combination drug therapy is needed frequently to achieve a target blood pressure. Although blockers of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system seem to have a favorable effect in diabetes, high-level evidence suggests that low-dose thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers are all good choices, both as initial and add-on therapy. Frequently, more than one drug is needed, and a low-dose thiazide diuretic combined with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker is a commonly used effective combination. Other drugs that can be added include calcium channel blockers and β-blockers. In certain clinical situations, specific drug classes are indicated. These include angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers in the case of diabetic nephropathy, β-blockers in the case of ischemic heart disease, and calcium channel blockers and loop diuretics in the case of advanced renal insufficiency, where the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers carries a significant risk of hyperkalemia.