Race and Perceived Stress Independently Affect the Diurnal Variation of Blood Pressure in Women

The purpose of this study was to determine whether race (black ν white) and perceived stress were independent factors affecting the diurnal blood pressure variation of normal women. The 110 women studied (age = 29.7 ± 7.2 years, range 20 to 50) were all employed in technical and clerical occupations from the same worksite. They were divided into four groups based on race and how they perceived work stress on the day of study. The results showed that there were no daytime differences in blood pressure levels in blacks or whites, but women who perceived greater stress at work on the day of study had From the Cardiovascular Center, Cornell University Medical College-New York Hospital, New York City. This study was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant HL37054. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Gary D. James, PhD, Cardiovascular Center, Cornell University Medical, College- New York Hospital, 525 E. 68th Street, New York, NY 10021. higher pressures during work (123/78 ν 115/74; Ρ < ,01), Blacks, however, had higher pressures during sleep than whites, independent of the perception of work stress (109/65 ν 104/60; Ρ < .01). These results suggest that the smaller drop in pressure during sleep in blacks is not related to perceived work stress, but that the effects of perceived stress on daytime pressures is independent of race. Am J Hypertens 1991;4:382–384