24 hour Blood Pressure Monitoring in the Management of Resistant Hypertension
24 hour blood pressure monitoring has particular benefits for individuals with resistant hypertension, according to a new study.
People with resistant hypertension are exposed to higher risk of heart attack and stroke. Resistant hypertension is diagnosed when blood pressure remains elevated in spite of combining 3 drug therapies, including a diuretic. Resistant hypertension can affect nearly 30 percent of those with elevated blood pressure.
24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring enables frequent night-time blood pressure measurements and evidence says that night-time blood pressure recordings are better risk indicators for life-threatening cardiovascular events.
Researchers at the University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, studied 556 patients with resistant hypertension for 5 years. Each patient was given a 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor, which facilitates to make day- and night-time recordings in every 15 and 30 minutes.
Researchers found that the risk of future cardiovascular events increases significantly with the rise of night-time blood pressure. During the study they found if night-time systolic blood pressure was increased by 22 mmHg, the risk of future cardiovascular events improved by 38 percent. If diastolic blood pressure went up by 14 mmHg, the possibility of cardiovascular events went up by 36 percent as well.
During follow-up, nearly 20 percent of the participants had some kind of cardiovascular events: stroke, heart attack, heart failure or sudden deaths. None of these events can be predicted by conventional blood pressure measurement in the doctor's office. 24 hour blood pressure measurement, however, is particularly important in predicting cardiovascular risks. 
As a result, reducing night-time blood pressure of patients with resistant hypertension is utmost important.
Meditech as the manufacturer of 24 hour blood pressure monitors and Holter ECG devices is committed to lower the risk of cardiovascular events by offering quality ambulatory monitors which comply with the requirements of international standards.