CIRCADIAN BLOOD-PRESSURE PROFILE AND OBST RUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA

The relationship between altered circadian blood pressure (BP) and obs tructive sleep apnea (OSA) has not been well elucidated. We investigat ed the possible relationship between the circadian BP and OSA severity in 47 patients with polysomnographic quantified OSA and systemic hype rtension. The BP was measured with an ambulatory 24-hour-blood pressur e monitor (ABPM) in 15-minute intervals during a 24-hour period. Compa rison between dippers (13 patients) and non-dippers (34) showed signif icantly higher OSA severity in non-dippers. Age and body mass index we re not different. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression a nalysis pointed out significant correlations between apnea-severity an d day-night BP differences. The severity of OSA is an important determ inant of circadian BP variation in hypertensive OSA patients.