Blood pressure profiles in patients with arterial hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea in different age groups

Background. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is frequently associated with hypertension (HTN), and about 50 % hypertensive patients have concomitant OSA. Episodes of transient upper airway obstruction affect the daily blood pressure profile, leading to nocturnal HTN. Although the general relationship between OSA and the daily blood pressure profile is known, the association between the frequency of various daily blood pressure profiles and OSA severity as well as the age-specific differences remain unknown. 
The aim of the study was to determine the daily blood pressure profiles in patients with HTN and OSA, depending on the OSA severity and age. 
Design and methods. The study included 236 HTN patients underwent treatment in the period from 2008 to 2021 years and were diagnosed with OSA by cardiorespiratory monitoring: 84 patients had mild OSA (apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) < 15 episodes/h), 46 patients — moderate OSA (15 ≤ AHI < 30 episodes/h), and 106 patients — severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30 episodes/h). The control group included 140 HTN patients without OSA. Both groups were divided into 3 age subgroups: younger than 45 years, 45–59 years and ≥ 60 years. At baseline, all patients underwent cardiorespiratory monitoring (“Kardiotekhnika‑07–3/12P”, Inkart, St Petersburg, Russia) and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring (BPLab, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia). 
Results. We found an association between the distribution of daily BP profiles and age, which differs from that in HTN patients without OSA. Non-dipper and night-peaker BP profiles are predominant in young and middle age. Among OSA patients, the severity of OSA was associated with the BP profiles only in the young and middleage groups. Unfavorable BP profiles (non-dipper and night-peaker) were more common in patients with severe OSA, which was not observed in elderly subgroup. In the elderly, compared to younger patients, the overdipper profile was the most common and its frequency was not associated with OSA severity. 
Conclusions. The study shows the relationship between the age of patients with HTN and OSA, the OSA severity and the distribution of daily BP profiles.

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