Diurnal BP Variations among Gender and Age Groups in 1000 Patients in a Cardiac Facility in The South-South Region of Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease globally. Office blood pressure (OBP) is standard, but Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) offers more comprehensive assessment, yet is underutilized in southern Nigeria. Therefore, this study aims to systematically evaluate the blood pressure variables (BPV) using ABPM in a diverse group of people in south-south Nigeria. Methods: Gender distribution and age categories were noted. ABPM variables, like average systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure (MAP), and heart rate (HR), were measured during wake and sleep. Analysis identified gender and age-related ABPM differences. Results: There were more males than females (55% vs 45%). The study revealed significant differences in blood pressure measurements between genders and age group during wake and sleep periods. During wake, males had higher systolic and diastolic BP. The mean systolic blood pressure was 135.3 mmHg ± 14.3 and 131.4 mmHg ± 14.5 for males and females, respectively (p value = 0<0.001). During sleep, females exhibited lower diastolic blood pressure compared to males (73.5 mmHg ± 10.4 vs. 76.0 mmHg ± 10.9) (p value = 0.002). Age-related variations were observed, with older individuals (>60 years) showing higher average systolic BP compared to other age groups during wake (135.1 ±15.8)  and sleep (129.4 ±18.01) periods (p = 0.0083, p = 0.0001, respectively). Conclusion This study contributes to our understanding of the evolving trends in day and night ABPM variables among patients in South-South Nigeria. The findings show the importance of comprehensive cardiovascular assessments to accurately evaluate and manage cardiovascular health in diverse patient populations.