Diurnal blood pressure patterns in long-term care settings

Some research suggests that individuals whose blood pressure does not decline at night may be at increased risk of end-organ damage. Few studies have examined ambulatory blood pressure among elders, particularly those living in institutions. This study therefore evaluates ambulatory blood pressure variation in two groups of institutionalized elderly, independent living and nursing home residents. It was suggested that the nursing home sample would have a higher rate of non-dipping than the independent-living residents.

Twenty-seven residents (aged 87 +/- 8 years) of a nursing home facility and 29 residents (aged 80 +/- 6 years) from two independent living facilities wore ambulatory monitors for approximately 24 h. Several definitions of dipping were examined.

Neither mean daytime nor mean night-time systolic blood pressure differed between the two groups. Daytime diastolic blood pressure was significantly higher in the independent living sample, as was night-time diastolic pressure in the nursing home residents. Neither asleep nor awake blood pressure varied significantly between groups. The decline in night-time blood pressure and sleep blood pressure was significantly greater among the independent living residents (P < 0.05). Ratios of night-time/daytime and asleep/awake blood pressure were significantly higher in the nursing home group. Non-dippers were significantly more frequent among the nursing home residents.

Nursing home residents were significantly more likely to be non-dippers. Both groups of resident were more frequently non-dippers than were individuals in community-dwelling samples. The high prevalence of non-dipping among institutionalized elderly people may be a result of age, health status or institutional activity patterns.