Effect of Irbesartan on ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate variability in elderly patients with essential hypertension

Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of irbesartan on ambulatory blood pressure(ABP) and heart rate variability(HRV) in elderly patients with essential hypertension(EH) . Method:One hundred and forty elderly patients with EH received oral irbesartan once daily. The 24 hours ambulatory ECG and 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were performed before and after 8 weeks treatment. Result:Irbesartan significantly decreased both systolic and diastolic average 24 hours blood pressure(P0.01) ,average daytime blood pressure(P0.01) and average nighttime blood pressure(P0.01) . In hypertensives with nighttime blood pressure higher than normal,Irbesartan was significantly decreased nighttime blood pressure(P0.01) . In hypertensives with normal nighttime blood pressure,irbesartan didn't decrease blood pressure any further(P0.05);SDNN、SDANN and SDNNI were increased(P0.05);HF was increased(P0.05) VLF and LF were decreased(P0.05) . Conclusion:Irbesartan can effectively decreases blood pressure and also have beneficial effect on HRV.