open access

Vol 20, No 2 (2013)
Review Article
Submitted: 2013-04-05
Accepted: 2013-04-05
Published online: 2013-04-05
Get Citation

Blood pressure variability: Epidemiological and clinical issues

Łukasz J. Krzych, Andrzej Bochenek
DOI: 10.5603/CJ.2013.0022
·
Cardiol J 2013;20(2):112-120.

open access

Vol 20, No 2 (2013)
Review articles
Submitted: 2013-04-05
Accepted: 2013-04-05
Published online: 2013-04-05

Abstract

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is a classical physiological phenomenon. This paper describes
major epidemiological and clinical issues of BPV which may be important to understand the
background of this interesting feature. In healthy subjects, BPV is a measure of hemodynamic
condition and refl ects function of autonomic nervous system. BP fl uctuations result from the
complex interaction between environmental stimulation, genetic factors and cardiovascular
control mechanisms. Abnormal BPV is recognized in persons with a blurred dipping pattern
(i.e. extreme dipping, non-dipping, reverse-dipping, morning surge of BP) or increased variations
of day-time or night-time BP (high BP lability). Inappropriate BPV worsens the outcome,
including increase in all-cause and cardiac mortality and incidence of cardiovascular events,
and advance in target organ damage. Abnormal BPV may be softened or removed with suitable
time-dependent administration of anti-hypertensive agents, especially those acting on the
renin–angiotensin system.

Abstract

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is a classical physiological phenomenon. This paper describes
major epidemiological and clinical issues of BPV which may be important to understand the
background of this interesting feature. In healthy subjects, BPV is a measure of hemodynamic
condition and refl ects function of autonomic nervous system. BP fl uctuations result from the
complex interaction between environmental stimulation, genetic factors and cardiovascular
control mechanisms. Abnormal BPV is recognized in persons with a blurred dipping pattern
(i.e. extreme dipping, non-dipping, reverse-dipping, morning surge of BP) or increased variations
of day-time or night-time BP (high BP lability). Inappropriate BPV worsens the outcome,
including increase in all-cause and cardiac mortality and incidence of cardiovascular events,
and advance in target organ damage. Abnormal BPV may be softened or removed with suitable
time-dependent administration of anti-hypertensive agents, especially those acting on the
renin–angiotensin system.
Get Citation

Keywords

blood pressure variability, epidemiology, outcomes, reproducibility, pharmacotherapy

About this article
Title

Blood pressure variability: Epidemiological and clinical issues

Journal

Cardiology Journal

Issue

Vol 20, No 2 (2013)

Article type

Review Article

Pages

112-120

Published online

2013-04-05

Page views

2640

Article views/downloads

3207

DOI

10.5603/CJ.2013.0022

Bibliographic record

Cardiol J 2013;20(2):112-120.

Keywords

blood pressure variability
epidemiology
outcomes
reproducibility
pharmacotherapy

Authors

Łukasz J. Krzych
Andrzej Bochenek

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