Visit-to-Visit Blood Pressure Variability and Target Organ Damage in Rural Dwellers With Uncomplicated Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

The aim: To examine the association of hypertensive mediated target organ damage with blood pressure visit-to-visit variability in Ukrainian rural dwellers with uncomplicated hypertension. Material and methods: The cross-sectional study enrolled 160 adult males with uncomplicated primary hypertension (mean age 50±6 yo). We analyzed office systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels, obtained at four consecutive visits. We used standard deviation (SD) value to assess blood pressure visit-to-visit variability. The patients were referred to the group with high (n=82; 51.3%) vs low (n=78; 48.7%) blood pressure variability (HBPV, LBPV). Results: HBPV patients were characterized by higher left ventricular myocardial mass indexed to height 2.7: median, interquartile range: 70.9 (61.3-78.2) vs 50.9 (44.9-54.4) g/m2.7, respectively p<0.001. The cases of severe left ventricular hypertrophy prevailed in HBPV group (vs LBPV): 68% vs 5%, respectively, p<0.001. HBPV group was characterized by larger common carotid artery intima-media complex thickness, advanced hypertensive retinopathy, higher urine albumin/creatinine ratio value and worse kidneys’ glomerular filtration rate. The obtained results might be helpful in the context of global monitoring of vulnerable high risk population of hypertensive rural males. Conclusions: The HBPV in rural hypertensive males was associated with more pronounced target organ damage. Further regional research on the various clinical aspects of hypertension, including blood pressure variability, might be useful in extending the existed evidence on prevention of hypertension-related complications.