Association between morning blood pressure surge and cardiovascular remodeling in patients with hypertension

AIM: To evaluate the association between morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) and cardiovascular remodeling in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A cohort of 386 patients with hypertension under 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were categorized as MBPS group (n=146) and non-MBPS group (n=240). Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and thickness (IMT) of carotid artery were measured by ultrasonography in all patients and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), left atrial dimension (LAD) and intima-media thickness were compared between groups. RESULTS: Compared with those in the non-MBPS group, LVMI ［(119±21)g/m2 vs.(92±12)g/m2, P<0.01］, LAD ［(46±11)mm vs. (38±10)mm, P<0.05］, IMT of carotid artery ［(1.36±0.24)mm vs. (0.92±0.18)mm, P<0.05］ and LVH (67% vs. 30%, P<0.01) were significantly higher in the MBPS group. CONCLUSION: Hypertensive patients with MBPS have more severe LVH and carotid atherosclerosis and larger LAD compared with those of hypertensive patients without MBPS. MBPS is associated with more significant cardiovascular remodeling.