Relationship of circadian rhythm abnormality of blood pressure and target organ damage in patients aged 80 years and older with essential hypertension

Objective To investigate the feature of ambulatory blood pressure in dipper and non-dipper groups of very elderly hypertensive patients,and to assess the relationship between circadian rhythm abnormality and the incidence of target organ damage.Methods The 80 hypertensive patients were selected.Patients were divided into dipper group and non-dipper group according to nocturnal blood pressure fall rate by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.SBP,DBP and blood pressure load and the incidence of target organ damage degree were recorded.Results 24 h systolic blood pressure load in non-dipper group and dipper group were respectively were respectively (72.0±11.0)%vs(32.0±8.0)%,,Medications needed in non-dipper group and dipper group were significantly more than that in dipper group(P0.05).The incidence of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke,renal dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease in non-dipper group were significantly higher than those in dipper group(P0.05).Conclusion In hypertensive patients aged 80 years and older,24 h,day and night systolic blood pressure and 24 h systolic blood pressure load in non-dipper group was significantly higher than that in dipper group respectively.The incidence of target organ damage in non-dipper group was significantly higher than that in dipper group.More optimal antihypertensive treatment are needed in these patients.