Nocturnal hypoxic episodes and structural changes in left ventricular myocardium in patients with mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension

AIM: To study correlations between structural changes of the left ventricle (LV) in patients with mild and moderate arterial hypertension (AH) and severity of hypoxic night episodes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination of 50 patients (mean age 52 +/- 1 year) with mild and moderate hypertension included echocardiographic measurement of LV myocardial mass, calculation of LV myocardial mass index. LV hypertrophy was stated in the index 125 g/m2 for men and 110 g/m2 for women. 24-h monitoring of arterial pressure (TM-2425) and night monitoring of hemoglobin saturation of arterial blood with oxygen (SaO2) using pulsoxymeter NONIN 8500M were made. The data processing was performed with the use of original program ARM-SaO2. Dissaturation was stated if SaO2 fell by 4% and more compared to the previous stable level at initial SaO2 level above 90%. The patients were divided into two groups according to the number of dissaturation episodes: group 1 (more than 20 dissaturation episodes) and group 2 (less than 20 episodes). RESULTS: The groups were comparable by gender, duration of hypertension, body mass index, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate. In group I, pulse arterial pressure, systolic arterial pressure load for 14 hours, day and night were significantly higher. Patients with dissaturation had a significantly higher LV myocardial mass and more frequent LV hypertrophy (128 +/- 6 and 106 +/- 5 g/m2 and 56 and 20%, respectively). The correlation and multifactor regression analysis showed a predictive value not only of the pressor parameters but also of indices of night hypoxia in relation to structural changes of LV myocardium. CONCLUSION: The presence of significant hypoxic episodes in sleep in AH patients indicates risk to develop structural changes of LV myocardium.     

Authorship: From credit to accountability. Reflections from the Editors’ Network

The Editors’ Network of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) provides a dynamic forum for editorial discussions and endorses the recommendations of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) to improve the scientific quality of biomedical journals. Authorship confers credit and important academic rewards. Recently, however, the ICMJE emphasized that authorship also requires responsibility and accountability. These issues are now covered by the new (fourth) criterion for authorship. Authors should agree to be accountable and ensure that questions regarding the accuracy and integrity of the entire work will be appropriately addressed. This review discusses the implications of this paradigm shift on authorship requirements with the aim of increasing awareness on good scientific and editorial practices.     

Circadian rhythm of arterial pressure and state of target-organs in patients with mild and moderate hypertension

AIM: To assess the state of target-organs in males with mild and moderate forms of essential hypertension (EH) in normal and disturbed 24-h rhythm of arterial pressure (AP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Target-organs were examined in 70 males aged 30-62 years (mean age 49 +/- 1 years) with mild (n = 54) or moderate (n = 16) EH. The following tests were performed: ophthalmoscopy, echo-CG with estimation of the left-ventricular myocardial mass index (LVMMI), duplex scanning of the carotid arteries (DS), AP monitoring, measurements of plasma creatinine, relative density of the urine, glomerular filtration rate, examination of the neurological status. Circadian rhythm of AP was evaluated by a night fall (NF) of systolic pressure (SP). Patients with inadequate NF of SP (< 10%) entered group 1, those with normal NF of SP (10% < NF SP < 20%) were allocated to group 2. RESULTS: Patients of group 1 had a significantly higher LVMMI, more frequent occurrence of left ventricular hypertrophy and carotid artery affection (local thickening "intima-media"). In group 1 there was also a complex of unfavourable changes in AP circadian profile, especially at night. CONCLUSION: Mild/moderate EH with insufficient NF of SP is associated with more pronounced and frequent changes in the target-organs (left-ventricular hypertrophy, "intima-media" thickeing). Insufficient NF of AP initiates higher pressor load on the target-organs, on the one side, and reflects defective regulation which affects target-organs, on the other. Both these factors contribute to damage of the target-organs.     

Indices of static and dynamic components of pressure load (assessed by 24-hour blood pressure monitoring) and the state of renal function in patients with essential hypertension

Aim of this study was to evaluate possible relationship between parameters of blood pressure (BP) profile and glomerular filtration rate in patients (pts) with I-II stage essential hypertension (EH). Material and methods. We studied 120 pts (97 men), aged 23-65 (50,2+/-0,6) years with I (n=98) and II (n=22) stage EH. In BP profile (SL-90207) we calculated 24-hour, daytime, nighttime values of systolic, diastolic, pulse pressures (SBP, DBP, PP), time load (TL), variability and nocturnal fall (NF) of BP. The state of renal function was assessed by measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculated by the Cockcroft formula. Results. After nonlinear statistical analysis by Gauss-Newton all patients were divided into three groups according to GFR tertiles. Significant differences were found between these groups by 24-hour, nighttime and daytime values of SBP and DBP. Values of SBP were the lowest in group II. In group II lowest values of PP were also observed, but statistically significant differences were found only in nocturnal PP values between groups II and III. There were no significant differences between groups by TL and NF of BP. In group Ill (high GFR) variability of daytime values of SBP and DBF were significantly higher. Univariate correlation analysis showed statistically significant negative relationship between GFR and nocturnal PP in patients with lowest level of GFR. Positive correlations between nocturnal values of PP and GFR in groups II and III were also observed. Conclusion. These results indicated the presence of strong relationship between high values of nocturnal PP and decreasing of glomerular filtration rate in patients with EH and thus confirmed significance of "constant" and "dynamic" components of pressure load as a marker of impairment of renal function.     

Obstructive sleep apnea: clinical significance and correlations with arterial hypertension

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs rather frequently. It often combines with arterial hypertension (AH) and contributes to development and course of such severe conditions as stroke, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, sudden death in sleep. Lack of adequate knowledge of relevant symptoms, cause-effect relationships leads to mistakes in management of patients. AH patients with OSA should receive combined treatment including hypotensive drugs and correctors of sleep respiratory disorders.     

24-Hour blood pressure profile in patients with mild and moderate arterial hypertension and sleep apnea/hypopnea

AIM: To evaluate 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile in arterial hypertension (AH) patients (pts) with desaturation signs of sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated 61 pts (44 males and 17 females) aged between 23-70 (52 +/- 2) years with mild to moderate AH. BP monitoring was performed with multisensor system TM-2425 (A&D, Japan). We assessed the following parameters: mean 24-h, awake, sleep systolic (S), diastolic (D) and pulse (P) BPs, systolic and diastolic BP loads ("normalized area under the curve"--NAUC). A normal circadian rhythm of BP was defined when nocturnal fall of SBP was > 10% and < 20%. The morning rise of BP we assessed by speed of increase of mean BP from 4 a.m. to 12 a.m. The nocturnal monitoring of arterial oxygen saturation(SaO2) was performed with pulseoximeter "NONIN 8500M" (USA). The analysis of the results was performed with the original program ARM-SaO2". The presence of SAHS was confirmed when the number of 4% desaturations were greater than 15 per hour or in the presence of group episodes of 4% desaturation below 90%. In 19 pts we revealed desaturation signs of SAHS. The comparison group included pts without SAHS (n = 42). We compared the groups regarding 24-h BP profile parameters. RESULTS: SAHS group had the following parameters significantly higher: mean 24-h (151.7 +/- 4.5 vs 142.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, p < 0.07) and sleep SBPs (142.8 +/- 5.1 vs 132.7 +/- 2.6 mm Hg, p < 0.05); mean 24-h (65.2 +/- 2.6 vs 55.9 +/- 1.9 mm Hg, p < 0.008), daytime (65.6 +/- 2.7 vs 56.6 +/- 2.0 mm Hg, p < 0.01) and sleep PBPs (64.1 +/- 2.7 vs 53.1 +/- 1.9 mm Hg, p < 0.002); 24-h (20.1 +/- 3.8 vs 12.6 +/- 1.8 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and sleep NAUC of SBP (24.6 +/- 4.4 vs 15.3 +/- 2.2 mm Hg, p < 0.03). In the group with SAHS were significantly higher the frequency of abnormal circadian rhythm of SBP (84 vs 57%, p < 0.05) and the speed of morning rise of mean BP (23.3 +/- 5.9 vs 8.5 +/- 2.8 mm Hg/h, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that pts with desaturation signs of SAHS are characterized by unfavourable changes in 24-h BP profile parameters, first of all owning to sleep systolic and pulse blood pressures with alteration of circadian rhythm and high speed of morning rise of BP.     

24-hour blood pressure rhythm: clinical and predictive value

Clinical and predictive value of 24-hour blood pressure rhythm is reviewed. Insufficient nocturnal blood pressure lowering induces augmented pressure load on target organs. On the other hand it reflects dysregulatory changes due to target-organ involvement. Lack of adequate nocturnal blood pressure lowering is considered by some investigators as independent risk factor of target-organ damage. This dictates necessity of registration of parameters of 24-hour blood pressure profile in evaluation of patients with hypertension.     

Pulse blood pressure (according to 24-hour monitoring) and left ventricular myocardial structural changes in patients with hypertensive disease

AIM: To study a relationship of the magnitude of structural changes in the left ventricle (LV) to the mean daily pulse blood pressure (PBP) in patients with hypertensive disease (HD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 70 male patients (mean age 49 +/- 1 years) with stages I (n = 54) to 11 (n = 16) HD. LV mass (LVM) was estimated by echocardiography according to the formula derived by R. B. Devereux et al. and normalized to body surface area [the LVM index (LVMI)]. The relative thickness index (RTI) for the posterior wall (PWRTI) and ventricular septum (VSRTI) was calculated as a ratio of the sum of PWRTI and VSRTI to the LV end-diastolic size. LVMI > 125 g/m2 was considered to be a criterion for LV hypertrophy (LVH). 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring was performed with a Spacelabs-90207 device (USA). According to the 24-hour PBP value, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) those (n = 17) having PBP24 > 53 mm HG and 2) those (n = 53) having PBP24 < 53 mm Hg. RESULTS: Group 1 patients were found to have significantly higher LVMI, LV WRTI, and incidence of LVH and a complex of changes in the BP profile as higher values of 24-hour systolic, diastolic and mean BP, PBP, and BP variations. Multiple regression analysis revealed a highly significant contribution of PBP24 to the development of LVH. CONCLUSION: The pedictive value of PBP as an index that characterizes a dynamic pressure load in regard to LV structural changes is higher than that of mean BP as a static load index and a BP variation index.