ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the association between morniing blood pressure surge (MBPS) and carotid atherosclerosis in elder patients with essential hypertension. Methods According to the results of24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 106 patients were classified as the morning BP surge group (MBPS group,n = 58) ,and nonsurge group (NMBPS group, n = 48). Patients underwent carotid ultrasound and the intima-medial thickness (CCA-IMT) and plaques were examined. Results The CCA-IMT of the MBPS group was significantly thicker than that the NMBPS group[(1.27 ± 0. 12)mm vs (0.92 ± 0.33 )mm], P ＜ 0. 05 ) ;②Compared with the NMBPS group,the severity of carotid arteries plaque of the MBPS group was significantly higher (72. 15% vs 54.21% ), ( P ＜0. 01 ) ;③Pearson relation analysis showed CCA-IMT level positively correlated with age (r = 0.288, P ＜ 0.001 ) ,the average of 24h SBP ( r = 0. 768 ,P ＜ 0. 001 ), and MBPS ( r = 0. 768, P ＜ 0.001 ). Conclusion The study showed that MBPS was closely related with carotid atherosclerosis in elder patients with essential hypertension and was an important risk factor in the process of atheresclerosis.