Nocturnal hypertension and right heart remodeling

We sought to investigate right ventricular (RV) and right atrial mechanics in patients with daytime, night-time and daytime-night-time hypertension.

This cross-sectional study included 256 untreated patients who underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and complete echocardiographic examination including strain analysis. Night-time hypertension was defined as nocturnal SBP at least 120 mmHg and/or DBP at least 70 mmHg and daytime hypertension as SBP at least 135 mmHg and/or DBP at least 85 mmHg.

RV structure, diastolic function and global longitudinal RV strain in patients with nocturnal hypertension are intermediate between daytime and daytime-night-time hypertension. On the other side, RV systolic and diastolic strain rates referring to the RV free wall are significantly deteriorated in the patients with nocturnal and daytime-night-time hypertension in comparison with normotension and daytime hypertension. Right atrial conduit function is significantly reduced in the patients with nocturnal and day-night-time hypertension comparing with other two groups, whereas right atrial reservoir and pump functions are intermediate between daytime and daytime-night-time hypertension. A 24-h SBP is independently of other clinical and echocardiographic parameters associated with RV and right atrial global strain.

RV mechanics is worse in night-time and daytime-night-time hypertensive patients than in normotensive controls and isolated daytime hypertensive patients. A 24-h SBP is independently associated with right heart mechanics.