Despite declines in morbidity and mortality in recent years, ischemic stroke (IS) remains one of the leading causes of death and disability from cerebrovascular diseases. Addressing the controllable risk factors underpins the successful clinical management of IS. Hypertension is one of the most common treatable risk factors for IS and is associated with poor outcomes. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring has revealed that patients with hypertension have a higher incidence of blood pressure variability (BPV) than those without hypertension. Meanwhile, increased BPV has been identified as a risk factor for IS. The risk of IS is higher and the prognosis after infarction is worse with higher BPV, no matter in the acute or subacute phase. BPV is multifactorial, with alterations reflecting individual physiological and pathological changes. This article reviews the current research advances in the relationship between BPV and IS, with an attempt to raise awareness of BPV among clinicians and IS patients, explore the increased BPV as a controllable risk factor for IS, and encourage hypertensive patients to control not only average blood pressure but also BPV and implement personalized blood pressure management.
Humans ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Ischemic Stroke/complications* ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Hypertension ; Stroke/complications* ; Prognosis

Objective: To assess the clinical features and relative factors of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in children with primary hypertension. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 430 children diagnosed with primary hypertension in Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics from January 2019 to September 2022 were enrolled. Their clinical data was analyzed and LVH was assessed by echocardiography. According to left ventricular geometry, these children were assigned to the LVH group and normal geometry group. General conditions, laboratory indicators and ambulatory blood pressure parameters between two groups were compared by independent sample t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between LVH and clinical indicators including blood pressure, biochemical and metabolic indicators. The independent risk factors of LVH were analyzed by multivariable logistic regression. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to explore the value of risk factors in the diagnosis of LVH. Results: Among the 430 children with primary hypertension, 342 (79.5%) were males and 88 (20.5%) females. Their age was (12.6±2.3) years, and 123 children (28.6%) of them had LVH. Body mass index (BMI) ((30.0±5.2) vs. (26.2±4.3) kg/m²), ratio of stage 2 hypertension (75.6% (93/123) vs. 59.6% (183/307)), 24-hour systolic blood pressure (24 h SBP)((131±10) vs. (128±10) mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), daytime systolic blood pressure (SBP) ((135±11) vs. (131±11) mmHg), nighttime SBP ((128±11) vs. (123±10) mmHg), cholesterol level ((4.0±0.7) vs. (3.9±0.7) mmol/L), serum uric acid level ((447±81) vs. (426±91) μmol/L) and incidence of hyperinsulinemia (69.9% (86/123) vs.59.0% (181/307)) were significantly elevated in the LVH group compared with those in the normal geometry group (all P<0.05). There were more patients with a disease course over 5 years in the LVH group than in the normal geometry group, with a statistically significant difference (χ²=8.90,P=0.031). Spearman correlation analysis showed that BMI, 24 h SBP, daytime SBP, nighttime SBP, triglyceride, uric acid, and serum sodium level were positively correlated with LVMI (r=0.43, 0.20, 0.18, 0.18, 0.18, 0.16, and 0.12, all P<0.05). BMI, hyperinsulinemia, and cholesterol level were positively correlated with relative wall thickness (RWT) (r=0.22, 0.12, and 0.16, all P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that BMI (OR=1.17, 95%CI 1.10-1.25) and 24 h SBP (OR=1.04, 95%CI 1.01-1.08) were the independent risk factors for LVH (both P<0.05). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve, combined with BMI and 24 h SBP, was 0.72 (95%CI 0.67-0.77, P<0.05), with a sensitivity and specificity of 71.5% and 64.8%, respectively. Conclusions: BMI and 24 h SBP are the independent risk factors for LVH in children with primary hypertension, and the combination of BMI and 24 h SBP has an acceptable diagnostic value for LVH. Early monitoring of these indexes is necessary to predict preclinical cardiac damage.
Male ; Female ; Humans ; Child ; Adolescent ; Hypertension/diagnosis* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/etiology* ; Uric Acid ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Retrospective Studies ; Blood Pressure/physiology* ; Risk Factors ; Essential Hypertension ; Hyperinsulinism ; Cholesterol

OBJECTIVE: Current clinical evidence on the effects of home blood pressure telemonitoring (HBPT) on improving blood pressure control comes entirely from developed countries. Thus, we performed this randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether HBPT plus support (patient education and clinician remote hypertension management) improves blood pressure control more than usual care (UC) in the Chinese population. METHODS: This single-center, randomized controlled study was conducted in Beijing, China. Patients aged 30-75 years were eligible for enrolment if they had blood pressure [systolic (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg; or SBP ≥ 130 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 80 mmHg with diabetes]. We recruited 190 patients randomized to either the HBPT or the UC groups for 12 weeks. The primary endpoints were blood pressure reduction and the proportion of patients achieving the target blood pressure. RESULTS: Totally, 172 patients completed the study, the HBPT plus support group ( n = 84), and the UC group ( n = 88). Patients in the plus support group showed a greater reduction in mean ambulatory blood pressure than those in the UC group. The plus support group had a significantly higher proportion of patients who achieved the target blood pressure and maintained a dipper blood pressure pattern at the 12th week of follow-up. Additionally, the patients in the plus support group showed lower blood pressure variability and higher drug adherence than those in the UC group. CONCLUSION HBPT plus additional support results in greater blood pressure reduction, better blood pressure control, a higher proportion of dipper blood pressure patterns, lower blood pressure variability, and higher drug adherence than UC. The development of telemedicine may be the cornerstone of hypertension management in primary care.
Humans ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Hypertension/therapy* ; Telemedicine/methods* ; Hypotension

Sleep apnea causes cardiac arrest, sleep rhythm disorders, nocturnal hypoxia and abnormal blood pressure fluctuations in patients, which eventually lead to nocturnal target organ damage in hypertensive patients. The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is extremely high, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of patients. This study attempts to extract features associated with OSAHS from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure data and identify OSAHS by machine learning models for the differential diagnosis of this disease. The study data were obtained from ambulatory blood pressure examination data of 339 patients collected in outpatient clinics of the Chinese PLA General Hospital from December 2018 to December 2019, including 115 patients with OSAHS diagnosed by polysomnography (PSG) and 224 patients with non-OSAHS. Based on the characteristics of clinical changes of blood pressure in OSAHS patients, feature extraction rules were defined and algorithms were developed to extract features, while logistic regression and lightGBM models were then used to classify and predict the disease. The results showed that the identification accuracy of the lightGBM model trained in this study was 80.0%, precision was 82.9%, recall was 72.5%, and the area under the working characteristic curve (AUC) of the subjects was 0.906. The defined ambulatory blood pressure features could be effectively used for identifying OSAHS. This study provides a new idea and method for OSAHS screening.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Humans ; Hypertension/complications* ; Polysomnography ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis*

Objective: To describe the prevalence of home blood pressure monitoring and analyze the factors influencing regular blood pressure monitoring among elderly uncontrolled hypertensive patients in Central and Western China. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study, which enrolled hypertensive patients aged over 60 years with office blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa) from September 2019 to July 2020 in 72 hospitals in Central and Western China. Patients completed the electronic questionnaires, and were divided into regular and irregular home blood pressure monitoring groups. The proportion of patients using different types of sphygmomanometers and the percentage of patients with regular home blood pressure monitoring (at least weekly) were explored. The generalized linear mixed model was used to define the influencing factors of regular home blood pressure monitoring. Results: A total of 3 857 patients were included in this study. Age was 67(64,71) years old and there were 2 163 males (56.1%). Overall, sphygmomanometer was available at home for 3 044(78.9%) patients, 2 168(56.2%) patients conducted regular home blood pressure monitoring. Among the patients with a sphygmomanometer at home, 2 370(77.9%) of the sphygmomanometers were upper arm electronic device. Older age, higher income, longer history of hypertension, multiple antihypertensive medications and awareness of diagnostic criteria of hypertension and hypertension complications were associated with a higher prevalence of regular home blood pressure monitoring (all P<0.05). Conclusions: Among the elderly hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure in Central and Western China, there is a relatively high prevalence of home sphygmomanometer ownership and regular monitoring. Age, family income, history of hypertension, number of antihypertensive drugs and knowledge of hypertension are the influencing factors of regular home blood pressure monitoring in this population.
Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Blood Pressure ; China/epidemiology*

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and ambulatory blood pressure or heart rate in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A total of 585 patients, who performed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) from September 2018 to April 2019 in Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, were enrolled and assigned into 2 groups (470 in a hypertensive group and 115 in a normal group). HbA1c levels were compared. According to the HbA1c level, the hypertensive group was divided into 2 subgroups: A high HbA1c group (HbA1c≥6.1%, RESULTS: The hypertensive group had higher HbA1c level than the normal group [(6.1±1.3)% vs (5.1±1.7)%, CONCLUSIONS In hypertensive patients, HbA1c is positively correlated with ambulate blood pressure, blood pressure load, and heart rate, and it has no correlation with blood pressure variability, heart rate variability, or morning blood pressure.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Glycated Hemoglobin A/analysis* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension

Objective: To analyze the effects of different types of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Method: In this meta-analysis, we searched for randomized controlled trials on the effect of SGLT2i on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Three databases, namely PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library, were searched. The search was organized on the concept of 3 conceptual groups: the first group contained terms used to describe SGLT2i, the second group contained terms related to blood pressure, and the third group contained terms used to describe randomized controlled trials. The search time was from the establishment of the database to December 2020. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated in accordance with the requirements of the Cochrane systematic review. According to whether the heterogeneity of the study was significant or not, a random effect model or a fixed effect model were used to conduct the analysis on the impact of different types of SGLT2i on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and day and night blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Further subgroup analysis was performed to define potential factors, which might lead to clinical heterogeneity. Results: Seven clinical trials were finally included. The result of the meta-analysis showed that compared with placebo group, SGLT2i could reduce the 24-hour dynamic systolic blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by 4.36 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). Reduction was 4.59, 3.74, 5.06, and 3.64 mmHg by canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and ertugliflozin respectively; SGLT2i could reduce the 24-hour dynamic diastolic blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by 2.20 mmHg, and the reduction was 2.30, 1.22, 2.00, and 2.69 mmHg by canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin respectively. SGLT2i could reduce the daytime systolic blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by 5.25 mmHg, and reduction was 5.38, 4.87, 6.00, and 4.37 mmHg by canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin, respectively. Simultaneously, SGLT2i could reduce the diastolic blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by 2.62 mmHg, and the reduction was 2.56, 2.47, and 2.80 mmHg by canagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin, respectively. SGLT2i could reduce the nighttime systolic blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by 3.62 mmHg, and the reduction was 2.09, 2.06, 3.92, and 2.45 mmHg by canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin, respectively. At the same time, SGLT2i could reduce the nighttime diastolic blood pressure of patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension by 1.60 and 1.51 mmHg, the reduction was 1.53 and 2.58 mmHg by canagliflozin, empagliflozin and ertugliflozin, respectively. Conclusion: SGLT2i can reduce 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Hypertension/drug therapy* ; Sodium-Glucose Transporter 2 Inhibitors/therapeutic use*

OBJECTIVE: To compare the infuences on circadian rhythm of blood pressure in the patients with non-dipper essential hypertension between the combined treatment of time acupuncture and western medication and the simple western medication. METHODS: A total of 70 patients with non-dipper essential hypertension were randomized into an acupuncture plus western medication group (35 cases, 2 cases dropped out) and a western medication group (35 cases). In the western medication group, levamlodipine maleate tablets were taken orally, 2.5 mg each time, once daily. In the acupuncture plus western medication group, on the base of the treatment as the western medication group, acupuncture was applied specially in the period of the day from 7:00 am to 9:00 am. The acupoints included Fengchi (GB 20), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. Acupuncture was given once daily, 5 treatments a week. The duration of treatment in the two groups was 4 weeks. The clinic blood pressure before and after treatment, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure and the levels of serum melatonin (MT) and 5-serotonin (5-HT) were observed in the two groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate of anti-hypertension was 75.8% (25/33) in the acupuncture plus western medication group, better than 54.3% (19/35) in the western medication group (<0.05). The 24 h average systolic blood pressure, the daytime average systolic blood pressure, the daytime average diastolic pressure, and the nighttime average systolic blood pressure were all reduced after treatment in the two groups (<0.05). The reduction effect of the aforementioned 4 indexes in the acupuncture plus western medication group was much more obvious as compared with the western medication group (<0.05). After treatment, the serum level of MT was increased and 5-HT decreased in the patients of two groups (<0.05). The serum level of MT in the acupuncture plus western medication group was higher than that in the western medication group and the level of 5-HT was lower than the western medication group (<0.05). CONCLUSION Time acupuncture therapy in the period of the day from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, combined with western medication effectively reduce blood pressure and regulate the levels of serum MT and 5-HT so as to maintain the circadian rhythm of blood pressure in patients with non-dipper essential hypertension. The therapeutic effect of this combined treatment is superior to simple western medication.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Circadian Rhythm ; Essential Hypertension ; therapy ; Humans ; Periodicity

Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; COVID-19/therapy* ; Cardiac Rehabilitation ; Cardiovascular Diseases/therapy* ; Communicable Disease Control ; Contact Tracing ; Health Literacy ; Health Services Accessibility ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Internet Access ; Poverty ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore ; Social Class ; Social Conditions ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Telemedicine ; Telerehabilitation ; Transients and Migrants

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on blood pressure variability (BPV) in elderly patients with cerebral infarction complicated with essential hypertension. METHODS: Seventy-six elderly patients with cerebral infraction complicated with essential hypertension were randomized into an observation group and a control group, 38 cases in each group. acupuncture and nifedipin were given in the control group. On the basis treatment in the control group, the and acupuncture was applied at Renying (ST 9), Hegu (LI 4), Quchi (LI 11), Zusanli (ST 36) and Taichong (LR 3) in the observation group for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day, 5 times a week for 8 weeks. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure was monitored in the two groups. The changes of blood pressure and blood pressure variability were observed before and after 8 weeks of treatment, and the occurrence of adverse reactions during the treatment were recorded. RESULTS: The mean systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), daytime SBP, DBP, nighttime SBP and DBP were reduced in the two groups after 8 weeks of treatment (<0.05), and the results in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (<0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the daytime, nighttime, 24 h systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) and diastolic blood pressure variability (DBPV) in the observation group were lower than those before treatment (<0.05), there was no significant difference between before and after treatment in the control group (>0.05). CONCLUSION and acupuncture method can effectively control the blood pressure and blood pressure variability in the elderly patients with cerebral infraction complicated with essential hypertension.
Acupuncture Therapy ; Aged ; Blood Pressure ; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; Cerebral Infarction ; complications ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications