New Orleans—Researchers are exploring new ways to assess blood pressure that will better identify patients' risk for adverse cardiovascular events than current methods.
At the scientific meeting of the American Society of Hypertension held here in May, attendees learned about studies focusing on measuring nocturnal blood pressure or central aortic pressure (as opposed to brachial pressures). While these tools are showing value for researchers, they are unlikely to find a place in the clinical setting at the present time.
Researchers studying nocturnal hypertension are focusing on the pattern seen when charting blood pressure levels over 24-hour periods. Blood pressure naturally falls, or dips, during sleep. Patients with a diminished decline in pressure (a nondipping pattern) are at higher risk of damage to target organs (brain, heart, kidneys, and eyes) or adverse cardiovascular events.
Findings presented at the hypertension meeting by Ricardo M. Cabrera Solé of the Hospital . . . [Full Text of this Article]
