Blunted heart rate dip during sleep and all-cause mortality.

Background: Although it has been somewhat overlooked, resting heart rate is an established predictor of cardiovascular and noncardiovascular outcome. We assessed the determinants and mortality associations of heart rate measured during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to evaluate its informativeness during activity and sleep.

Methods: We studied a cohort of 3957 patients aged 55 +/- 16 (mean +/- SD) years (58% treated for hypertension) who were referred for ABPM during 1991 to 2005.

Predictors of all-cause mortality in clinical ambulatory monitoring: unique aspects of blood pressure during sleep.

The prognostic value of sleep blood pressure reported by recent studies is variable. Our aim was to examine the relationship of sleep blood pressure, measured by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, with all-cause mortality. We studied a cohort of 3957 patients aged 55+/-16 (58% treated) referred for ambulatory monitoring (1991-2005).

Lack of association between body-mass index and white-coat hypertension among referred patients.

Objective: The association between body-mass index and ambulatory blood pressure variables is not straightforward. Specifically, there are contradicting data regarding the correlation between obesity and white-coat hypertension. The aim of this report was to study the relationship between body-mass index and the white-coat effect, defined by ambulatory monitoring.

Reproducibility of white-coat and masked hypertension in ambulatory BP monitoring.

Background: White-coat hypertension and masked hypertension have clinical and prognostic consequences. However, reproducibility of these phenomena is unknown. We examined the reproducibility of the white-coat and masking effects with real-life ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

How should patients treated with alpha-blockers be followed? Insights from an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring database.

Objective: Adrenergic alpha-antagonists have been suggested to confer lesser protection, compared to diuretics, when used as first agents for hypertension. While differences in clinic blood pressure may be partly responsible, this inferiority is unexpected in light of the metabolic advantages of alpha-blockade. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between use of alpha-blockers and blood pressure dipping.

Normal ambulatory blood pressure: a clinical-practice-based analysis of recent American Heart Association recommendations.

Purpose: The American Heart Association Council on High Blood Pressure Research recently issued recommendations for blood pressure measurement in humans. According to these recommendations, normal 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure is defined as less than 130/80 mm Hg. Concurrently, normal daytime and nighttime blood pressure levels are defined as less than 135/85 mm Hg and less than 120/70 mm Hg, respectively.

In clinical practice, masked hypertension is as common as isolated clinic hypertension: predominance of younger men.

Background: The prevalence and implications of masked hypertension are under investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics associated with masked hypertension in subjects referred for ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring.

Methods: We analyzed 1494 BP monitoring sessions.

Pulse pressure is more susceptible to the white coat effect than is systolic blood pressure: observations from real-life ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Background: Pulse pressure is a derivative of arterial stiffness. We have previously demonstrated ambulatory pulse pressure to be relatively independent from the blood pressure (BP) lowering during sleep, and thus of a neurogenic effect. On the other hand, white coat BP effects are thought to involve neurogenic activation.