Association of 24 h–systolic blood pressure variability and cardiovascular disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Abstract Background To evaluate association of 24 h–systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as defined by the apnea-hypopnea index ≥5/h; and association of 24 h–SBP variability and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD) in OSA patients. Methods Participants underwent polysomongraphy to evaluate the presence of OSA, and 24 h–ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was applied to evaluate 24 h–SBP variability as indexed by weighted 24 h–standard deviation (SD) of SBP. Between-group differences were evaluated in participants with and without OSA. Participants with OSA were divided into high and low 24 h–SBP variability groups and between-group differences were evaluated. Results Mean age of 384 participants was 50 years old and 42.2% had OSA. Mean 24 h–systolic/diastolic BP were 130/78 mmHg, with mean weighted 24 h–SD of systolic/diastolic BP were 12.9/7.3 mmHg. Compared to those without OSA, OSA participants had higher clinic-, 24 h-, daytime- and nighttime-SBP, and weighted 24 h, daytime- and nighttime-SD of SBP. Age, prevalent CVD and OSA, usage of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker and diuretic were significantly associated with 24 h–SBP variability. In OSA patients, compared to those with low variability, participants with high variability had higher weighted 24 h, daytime- and nighttime-SD of SBP. After adjusted for covariates including clinic-SBP and 24 h–SBP, per 1-SD increment weighted 24 h–SD of SBP was associated with 21% increased prevalent CVD. Conclusions Patients with newly-diagnosed OSA have higher 24 h–SBP variability compared to those without OSA; in OSA patients, increased 24 h–SBP variability is associated with increased prevalence of CVD.