Effect of Improving Volume Overload on Home Blood Pressure Variability in Hemodialysis Patients

Blood pressure variability is an independent predictor of adverse clinical events in hemodialysis patients. Volume overload is one of the most important factors affecting blood pressure homeostasis. In the present study, we explored the effects of dry weight reduction on home blood pressure variability in volume overload hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients with volume overload had their dry weight gradually decreased under the guidance of bioimpedance methods, which was represented by calf-bioimpedance ratio (Calf-BR). Home blood pressure was measured on waking up and at bedtime for 1 week at baseline and at the end of the two-month study. Coefficient of variation was used to define home blood pressure variability. Thirty-eight hemodialysis patients had their dry weight significantly decreased from 60.7 ± 11.3 to 59.6 ± 10.7 kg (P = 0.003) accompanied with a significant reduction in calf-BR (0.828 ± 0.023 vs. 0.786 ± 0.020, P<0.001). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly. Moreover, the whole-day, morning, and evening systolic blood pressure variability gradually and significantly decreased by the end of the study (5.6 ± 2.1% versus 4.0 ± 1.7%, P<0.001; 7.7 ± 3.5% vs. 6.3 ± 2.7%, P = 0.005; 7.5 ± 2.8% vs. 5.9 ± 2.3%, P = 0.002, respectively). Diastolic blood pressure variability parameters were unchanged. The interdialytic weight gain and the incidence of adverse events were similar throughout the study period. Gradual dry weight reduction by bioimpedance methods improved home blood pressure variability in hemodialysis patients with chronic fluid overload.