Non-Dipper pattern in hypertensive patients treated in a cardiology service in the city of Villa Mercedes (2017-2018)

Abstract

Non-dipper patients show more target organs damages than the dipper ones. This pattern has a clinical value that allows us to identify major risk groups and proceed medically in consequence. Objective: To get to know the features and the prevalence of non-dipper pattern in hypertensive patients assisted at a Villa Mercedes’ private institution, between years 2017 and 2018. Method: Non-dipper patients show more target organs damages than the dipper ones. This pattern has a clinical value that allows us to identify major risk groups and proceed medically in consequence. Results: There were 108 women and 100 men studied. The average age was 49.8 ± 13.2. ABPM results were HTN in 48.1% of patients and normotensive in the remaining 51.9%; with 48.6% being dipper and the 51.9% being non-dipper; this last one mostly observed in over 40-year-old patients. While most of the hypertensive patients were non-dipper, the normotensive ones were mainly dipper. Conclusions: There were more patients controlled by therapeutic measures according to what is established for our country population; but also more non-dipper patterns than in national and international studies. This could be studied in a future investigation, repeating ABPM in patients with altered night patterns or enquiring into sleep quality, sleep apnea and other factors that could modify this pattern.