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Effects of Antihypertensive Therapy on Blood Pressure Variability

  • Antihypertensive Agents: Mechanisms of Drug Action (M Ernst, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The study aims to summarize the effect of antihypertensive therapy on various types of BP variability in hypertensives.

Recent Findings

Visit-to-visit, day-by-day, and ambulatory BPV are markers of target organ damage and cardiovascular prognosis, as was shown in the LIFE study, which showed that visit-to-visit variability in BP predicted cardiovascular events in treated hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. Long-acting calcium channel blockers (CCBs) may be a preferable treatment in reducing BPV measures. Non-adherence to antihypertensive medication is also a very important component of increased BPV, and improving the adherence is also a key for the favorable prognosis.

Summary

BPV cannot be a target of antihypertensive treatments because of the lack of definitive evidence. However, in high-risk patients, those with cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, the clinical significance should be considered in individual basis. Especially, reduction of BPV would be an important strategy for these patients.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, 329-0498, Japan

    Kazuo Eguchi

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  1. Kazuo Eguchi
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Correspondence to Kazuo Eguchi.

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Dr. Eguchi declares no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Antihypertensive Agents: Mechanisms of Drug Action

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Eguchi, K. Effects of Antihypertensive Therapy on Blood Pressure Variability. Curr Hypertens Rep 18, 75 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-016-0680-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-016-0680-3

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