Objectives:

Uncontrolled blood pressure and nondipping status are closely associated with increased cardiovascular risk. In this study we aimed to evaluate blood pressure control and dipping status in overweighed and obese hypertensive patients.

Material and method:

Seventy two hypertensive patients (57.4±11.9; 21 male, 51 female) were enrolled. Patients were grouped as with BMI <25 kg/m2 and ?25 kg/m2. Patients with diabetes and coronary artery disease were excluded. All of the patients were performed 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Averages of 24-hour, daytime and nighttime systolic, and diastolic blood pressures were calculated. Dipping feature was determined by the >10% decrease of blood pressures in the nighttime measurements compared to daytime measurements. Statistical analyses were done by Mann Whitney U test and Chi Square test using SPSS 11.0.

Results:

24 hour daytime and nighttime SBPs were significantly higher in overweighed and obese patients with the BMI ?25 kg/m2 compared to patients with BMI <25 kg/m2 (p<0.05). Also DBPs were higher in the same group but not statistically significant (p>0.05). Distribution of dipping and nondipping was not different between groups, however nondipping status was increased in both of the groups.

Conclusions:

Targets of optimal blood pressure in overweighed and obese hypertensive patients could not be achieved. Thus hypertensive patients with BMI ?25 kg/m2 are at risk for cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events due to higher daytime and nighttime blood pressure. Non dipping status is also higher in both groups. Blood pressures should be closely monitored and if necessary, combination therapy should be planned to achieve blood pressure targets and to overcome the nondipping status.

Keywords: