Relationship between ambulatory blood pressure and carotid atherosclerosis in aged patients with hypertension

Objective:To explore relationship between ambulatory blood pressure and carotid atherosclerosis(AS) in aged patients with hypertension.Methods:A total of 220 60 years aged patients with hypertension received ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(ABPM).Level of 24h blood pressure,blood pressure variability,pulse pressure and circadian rhythm of blood pressure were recorded.Meanwhile,all patients received carotid artery B type ultrasonography to detect carotid AS.According to carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) or atherosclerotic plaques or not,patients were divided into carotid AS group(n= 142,64.5%) and non carotid AS group(n = 78,35.5%).Results:Compared with non carotid AS,there were significant increase in 24h mean systolic blood pressure[24hSBP,(124.52 ±14.46) mraHg vs.(133.16 113.62) mmHg],daytime SBP[(127.23 ± 16.42) mmHg vs.(136.25 ±12.44) mmHg],mean24h pulse pressure[24h PP(56.74±8.98) mmHg vs.(64.66110.20) mmHg],day PP[dPP(56.97±7.23) mmHg vs.(66.52±14.62) mmHg],night PP[nPP(55.6116.32) mmHg vs.(63.9217.42) mmHg],and standard deviations of 24h,daytime,nighttime SBP in carotid AS group,P0.05 all.Conclusion:Incidence rate of carotid atherosclerosis is high in aged patients with hypertension,and ifs closely related to ambulatory blood pressure,pulse pressure level,and blood pressure variability,circadian rhythm change.