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Effect of dipping status on QRS morphology in patients with hypertension

Ismail Erden1, Emine Cakcak Erden, Hakan Ozhan

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Duzce University, Düzce Medical School, Konuralp, Duzce, Turkey. iserdemus@yahoo.com

Blood Pressure Monitoring
|June 19, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Elevated QRS duration on electrocardiograms is linked to a nondipper blood pressure profile in hypertensive patients. This finding highlights a potential cardiovascular risk indicator in this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Research
  • Electrocardiography

Background:

  • Prolonged QRS duration on electrocardiograms (ECG) predicts cardiovascular outcomes.
  • A nondipper blood pressure (BP) profile is an independent cardiovascular risk factor.
  • The relationship between ECG parameters and the nondipper BP profile in hypertension is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between QRS duration and the nondipper BP profile in hypertensive patients.
  • To determine if ECG parameters, specifically QRS duration, are elevated in hypertensive individuals with a nondipper BP pattern.

Main Methods:

  • Ambulatory BP monitoring was used to classify 136 hypertensive patients into dipper and nondipper groups.
  • 12-lead ECGs were recorded to measure maximum QRS duration (QRSd).
  • Statistical analyses, including correlation and regression, were performed to assess relationships between BP parameters and QRSd.

Main Results:

  • Nondipper hypertensives (n=70) showed significantly higher QRSd compared to dippers (n=66).
  • No significant differences in daytime BP, medication use, or antihypertensive drug classes were observed between groups.
  • Systolic BP fall at night was inversely correlated with QRSd and identified as an independent correlate, along with age.

Conclusions:

  • Increased QRS duration on standard ECG is associated with the nondipper BP pattern in hypertensive patients.
  • The nocturnal systolic BP fall is an independent predictor of QRS duration in this cohort.
Abstract

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