The Role of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Masked Hypertension

Objective. To assess office and outpatient blood pressure (BP) in patients with the persistent and masked hypertension (HTN) and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Design and methods. We enrolled 121 subjects with BP increase and verified OSAS by multifunctional monitoring including registration of electrocardiogram, BP and respiration (Кardiotekhnika 04-BP3 (M), St Petersburg, Russia) that were divided into 2 groups: patients with stable and masked HTN. Results. The groups differed by age, office and ambulatory BP in subjects younger 40 years. Males were prevalent among patients with OSAS and masked HTN. Smoking rate was also higher in this group. Both daytime and nocturnal BP were higher in subjects with OSAS and masked HTN. According to multiple regression analysis there were several predictors of masked HTN in OSAS patients: male gender, high normal BP, smoking and BP elevation at night. Conclusions. Multifunctional monitoring with the registration of BP and respiration is obligatory in patients with HTN and suspected sleep breathing disorders in order to diagnose latent HTN.