COMPUTER-ASSISTED EVALUATION OF 24-HOUR BLOOD-PRESSURE PROFILES IN ESSENTIAL AND SECONDARY HYPERTENSIVES

Abstract

In 17 essential hypertensives, 13 secondary hypertensives and 9 normotensives, noninvasive 24 h blood pressure monitoring was performed. By a computer-aided evaluation according to the Cosinor method, circadian periodicity was quantified and expressed as a coefficient of periodicity in %. This coefficient for systolic pressure was higher in essential hypertensives and normotensives than in secondary hypertensives (42.9 .+-. 18.0 et 43.0 .+-. 16.7 versus 28.2 .+-. 17.7; p < 0.05). The circadian periodicity of diastolic pressure showed no significant differences. Despite the large overlap, coefficients of periodicity below 20% for systolic pressure may suggest secondary hypertension.