Association of nocturnal blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy in Iranian hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVES: Hypertension is a prevalent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity, often leading to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). As ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) gains prominence in hypertension management, it is crucial to explore its association with LVH occurrence to enhance clinical understanding and treatment strategies. This study aims to investigate the correlation between nocturnal blood pressure patterns and presence of LVH in hypertensive patients, offering insights into optimizing hypertension management strategies. METHODS: Fifty-four patients with confirmed hypertension were included in this study. All participants underwent transthoracic echocardiography within two days of admission and 48-hour ABPM within one week of admission. Based on the presence of LVH, patients were categorized into LVH and non-LVH groups. Nocturnal systolic/diastolic BP were compared between the two groups using the appropriate statistical tests. RESULTS: Among the 54 hypertensive patients, those with LVH (n = 22) demonstrated a significantly higher nocturnal average SBP (124.04 ± 11.92 mmHg) and DBP (76.24 ± 9.76) compared to those without LVH (n = 32, SBP = 116.78 ± 13.92 mmHg, DBP = 72.45 ± 9.76, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: This research shows a significant association between nocturnal BP patterns and the presence of LVH in hypertensive individuals. Nocturnal SBP and DBP were identified as independent risk factors for LVH. Further research, particularly on the timing of antihypertensive medication, is warranted to confirm causal relationships and improve management strategies.