Seasonal Variation in Blood Pressure in Normotensive Women Studied by Home Measurements

Abstract

1. The factors influencing the seasonal variation in blood pressure measured at home in normotensive women were examined. 2. Sixteen female subjects (56.3 +/- 7.9 years old, mean +/- SD) measured their blood pressure and pulse rate at home each morning for more than 20 times per month for at least 1.5 years. Blood pressure and body weight were also determined in the office once or twice a month in that period. Monthly means of outdoor and indoor temperatures and daytime length were obtained from the Meteorological Observatory. The single cosinor method was used to evaluate circannual rhythm. 3. We observed a biphasic seasonal variation in self-recorded blood pressure measured at home, environmental temperature and daytime length but found no apparent seasonal variation in body weight and blood pressure measured in the office. The lowest levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured at home were observed in July. The longest daytime length was recorded in June, while the highest outdoor temperature and indoor temperature were recorded in August, indicating that the longest daytime length preceded and the highest environmental temperature lagged behind the lowest level of blood pressure. The shortest daytime length is in December. The lowest outdoor and indoor temperature were observed in January, while the highest levels of self-recorded systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were in January and December, respectively. Half-amplitudes of self-recorded systolic and diastolic blood pressure were 2.6 +/- 1.0 mmHg and 2.0 +/- 0.8 mmHg, respectively. 4. These findings indicate the importance of a seasonal effect, i.e. daytime length and the environmental temperature, on the blood pressure of individuals.

Visit-to-visit variability in blood pressure over a 1-year period is a marker of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in treated hypertensive patients

“…Seasonal variation in arterial blood pressures has previously been demonstrated; [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] blood pressure is generally higher in the winter than in the summer. We previously reported the highest level of SBP is observed in February, and the lowest level of SBP is observed in August in healthy elderly subjects based on home measurements of blood pressures.…”

“…In other words, the month in which the highest level of SBP was observed was different from that in previous reports. [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]31 However, the present study used the SBP at an outpatient clinic and included treated hypertensive patients. These differences in methods of blood pressure measurement and study participants may have caused this discrepancy between the present study and previous studies.…”

“…9 This is likely because arterial stiffening due to aging or hypertension leads to LV hypertrophy or LV interstitial fibrosis, thereby producing LV diastolic dysfunction. 10,11 Seasonal variation in arterial blood pressures has been demonstrated; [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] blood pressures are higher in the winter than in the summer. Studies in older adults 20,21 have shown that a 10-mm Hg rise in systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with an approximately 10% increase in the risk of death from stroke and ischemic heart disease.…”

Blood pressure measurement in patients with rate controlled atrial fibrillation using mercury sphygmomanometer and Omron HEM-750CP deice in the clinic setting

“…1,2 Manual sphygmomanometer readings are subject to clinician errors due to inappropriate cuff size, digit bias, too rapid cuff deflation, white coat effect and use of non-validated devices. 3 The European Society of Hypertension (ESH) provides guidelines on how to measure blood pressure and recommends machines that are calibrated and validated for patients in SR. 4 In AF there are no generalised accepted methods of determining auscultatory end points.…”

The Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for Self-monitoring of Blood Pressure at Home (Second Edition)

“…For example, home BP can detect seasonal variations in BP. [86][87][88][89][90][91] The monitoring of seasonal changes in home BP facilitates the titration of antihypertensive drugs.…”