Clinical study of blood pressure variability in patients with primary hypertension

Objectives To observe the relationship between blood pressure (BP) variability and the target organ damage, the extent of BP increasing, age in patients with primary hypertension. Methods 40 normal controls and 65 patients with primary hypertension were undergone 24 hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. The BP variability (BPV) was determined by standard deviation(s) from mean blood pressure during the 24 hours. Results BPV in patients primary hypertension was higher than that in normal controls ( P 0 01) BPV in patients with stage Ⅱ and Ⅲ primary hypertension were higher than that in those with stage Ⅰ ( P 0 01). BPV increased with age in patients less than 55 years old, but did not in those more than 55 years old. Conclusions Patients with primary hypertension have increased BPV. Furthermore, the BPV increased with the extent of target organ damage. BP value and, to some extent, the age of the patients.