Analysis between pulse pressure and diurnal rhythm of blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension

Objective: To investigate distribution feature on pulse pressure among different ages, and relation to diurnal rhythm of blood pressure in essential hypertension. Methods: 263 inpatients with essential hypertension were analysed; according to ambulatory blood pressure, their pulse pressure distribution and diurnal rhythm of blood pressure were studied in ≤30, 40～49, 50～59, 60～69 and ≥70 age groups respectively and they were divided into dipper group and non dipper group: low, medium, high and very high risk groups. The 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure records were obtained with ambulatory blood pressure equipment. Results: (1) pulse pressure showed no significant difference between ≤30 and 40～49, 50～59, 60～69 age groups, and pulse pressure in ≥70 age group was higher than ≤30, 40～49, 50～59 age group. (P0.05). The pulse pressure was becoming wider with age increasing. (2) The pulse pressure was not significant between day pulse pressure and night pulse pressure, dipper and non dipper groups. (3) The pulse pressure in high risk and very high risk groups was higher than low and medium risk groups. Conclusion: The wide pulse pressure is a marker of reduced artery distensibility, increased artery stiffness and atherosclerosis. It is associated with age, duration of essential hypertension and severer degree of blood pressure. The pulse pressure and diurnal rhythm of blood pressure are two different types. Both of them have clinical value for evaluation of prognosis and target organ damage of essential hypertension.