[Increase in blood pressure due to continuous obstructive snoring]

Sleep-related breathing disorders can strain the cardiovascular system. Link-ups with arterial hypertension have been confirmed in obstructive or mixed sleep apnoea which is characterised by discontinuous nocturnal snoring. On the other hand, it is known that arterial hypertension is very frequently seen in snorers. The present study deals with short-term, breathing-related blood pressure patterns and blood pressure changes during the snoring phase. 18 obstructive snoring phases were identified in 4 male patients aged 50 years (42-65), Broca index 136 (119-171). Polysomnographic measurements were carried out in the sleep laboratory and the blood pressure was continuously recorded via the a. brachialis. The short-term breathing-dependent blood pressure changes were systolic 10.8 (10-30) mmHg at the beginning and 17.5 (10-30) mmHg at the end of the snoring phase (P less than 0.01). Diastolically there was a difference of 9.4 (5-15) mmHg versus 13.9 (5-25) mmHg (P less than 0.01). During the snoring phases the systolic blood pressure increased from 140.3 (120-190) mmHg to 170.0 (145-235) mmHg and the diastolic pressure from 69.7 (50-110) mmHg to 93.1 (70-120) mmHg. The study proves that blood pressure increases occur not only in apnoeic snoring but also in continuous obstructive snoring. It is suspected that these changes are responsible for the high frequency of arterial hypertension among continuous snorers.