Ambulatory blood pressure in elderly hypertensives

Objective To evaluate the feature of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring(ABPM) in elderly hypertensions. Methods Noninvasive ambulatory blood pressure recorder was used to carry out 24-hour ABPM in 52 elderly hypertensive patients and 51 youngerly hypertensive patients and 12 elderly controls. Results 24-hour mean SBP and DBP,daytime mean SBP,nighttime mean SBP and DBF were significantly higher in elderly hypertensive group than those in control group(P0.05,P0.01,P0.001). SBP loads of elderly hypertensive group were higher than those of control group in 24-hour, daytime and nighttime (.P 0.01,P0.001). No difference was observed in DBP load. Nocturnal drop rate in blood pressure was less in elderly hypertensive group than in controls group(P0.05). Elderly hypertensions displaid siglificantly lower mean DBP and DBP load at 24-hour, daytime and nighttime(P 0.01, P 0.001, P 0.001). Except to daytime SBP,no differences were observed in different stages. Conclusion Elderly hypertension mainly displays systolic hypertension,and less nocturnal drop rate in blood pressure.