Associated factors of home versus ambulatory heart rate variability in the general population: the Ohasama study.

We previously demonstrated that heart rate (HR) variability obtained by daytime ambulatory monitoring and that of daily home measurement associated differently with cardiovascular mortality risk; cardiovascular mortality was linked with decreased daytime ambulatory HR variability and increased day-by-day home HR variability. The aim of this study was to identify factors contributing to each variability, clarifying possible reasons for their different predictive values. We obtained daytime ambulatory HR and home HR in 538 individuals of a general Japanese population aged ≥55 years. Daytime ambulatory HR variability and day-by-day home HR variability were estimated as a standard deviation measured every 30 min by daytime ambulatory monitoring and day-by-day home measurements once in the morning for 4 weeks, respectively. There was only weak correlation between daytime ambulatory HR variability and day-by-day home HR variability (r = 0.08∼0.14). In a multiple regression model, daytime ambulatory HR variability was associated with daytime ambulatory HR (P < 0.0001), daytime ambulatory blood pressure (BP) variability (P < 0.0001), and male sex (P = 0.003), while negatively associated with daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P < 0.0001) and smoking (P = 0.038). Meanwhile, day-by-day home HR variability was positively associated with home HR (P < 0.0001), day-by-day home BP variability (P < 0.0001), and male sex (P = 0.018). Associated factors of daytime ambulatory HR variability and day-by-day home HR variability were different. Our findings suggest that HR variabilities by different intervals of measurements might be mediated by different mechanisms.

Blood pressure-lowering effect and duration of action of bedtime administration of doxazosin determined by home blood pressure measurement.

The effects and duration of action of bedtime administration of doxazosin 2 mg for 4 weeks on uncontrolled morning home hypertension were investigated. Morning home blood pressure (HBP) was significantly lowered by bedtime administration of doxazosin. Doxazosin significantly lowered evening HBP only in the subgroup of patients with an uncontrolled evening HBP. The evening (E)/morning (M) ratio was greater in patients with an uncontrolled evening HBP than in those with a controlled evening HBP. The results suggest that bedtime administration of doxazosin effectively suppresses morning HBP in uncontrolled morning hypertensives and lowers evening HBP in uncontrolled evening hypertensives.

Influence of home blood pressure measuring conditions in the evening on the morning-evening home blood pressure difference in treated hypertensive patients: the J-HOME study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to clarify the factors affecting the morning-evening home systolic blood pressure (BP) difference (home systolic ME dif) in treated hypertensive patients, including evening home BP measuring conditions, based on the data from the Japan Home versus Office BP Measurement Evaluation study. METHODS: The study participants were 3303 essential hypertensive patients (mean age 66.2+/-10.5 years; females 55.3%) treated using antihypertensive drug therapy in primary care settings in Japan. Multivariate regression analysis including the variables that were significantly associated with the home systolic ME dif on the univariate analysis was performed. RESULTS: The mean of the home systolic/diastolic ME dif was 6.1+/-10.8/4.8+/-6.5 mmHg. The proportion of patients measuring evening BP after drinking alcohol was 20.5%, and the proportion of patients measuring evening BP after bathing was 76.8%. Uncontrolled morning systolic BP (morning systolic BP > or =135 mmHg), controlled evening systolic BP (evening systolic BP <135 mmHg), older age (> or =65 years), measurement of evening BP after drinking, and measurement of evening BP after bathing were positively associated with the home systolic ME dif on multivariate regression analysis. CONCLUSION: Measurement of evening BP after drinking and measurement of evening BP after bathing were strongly associated with an increased home systolic ME dif, independent of morning and evening home BP levels. Therefore, evening home BP measuring conditions (before or after drinking alcohol and bathing) should be taken into account while evaluating the home systolic ME dif.

Factors affecting heart rate as measured at home among treated hypertensive patients: the Japan home versus office blood pressure measurement evaluation (J-HOME) study.

We previously reported that a resting heart rate measured at home (home HR) of >or=70 beats per minute was a powerful predictor of the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality, and identified factors affecting home HR in the general Japanese population. The present study examines factors affecting home HR in hypertensive patients treated with antihypertensive medications. Home HR was measured using a home blood pressure (BP) device. Information about the characteristics of the patients was collected using questionnaires administered by a physician. Among 3,400 patients, 3,086 measured home HR both in the morning and evening. The mean values of home HR in the morning and evening were 67.2+/-9.1 and 69.6+/-9.2 beats per minute, respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that lower age, diabetes mellitus, habitual smoking, higher diastolic BP, and the lack of beta-blocker or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use were determinants of elevated morning or evening home HR. These results suggest that adequate control of risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as smoking and diabetes mellitus or use of heart rate-lowering agents might help to decrease home HR in treated hypertensive patients.