Lusardi P, Zoppi A, Poletti L, Mugellini A, Corradi L, Preti
P, Fogari R
Effect of menopause on clinic and ambulatory blood
pressure
12th Annual ASH Meeting
Am J Hypertens
(Apr) 10:75A 1997
The effect of aging and hormonal changes on office blood pressure
have been studied. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of
menopause on clinic and ambulatory blood pressure.
61 normotensive healthy women 47 years or older were studied. At
entry into the study they had normal menses. Ambulatory blood
pressure and clinic pressure were measured every 6 months. When
menses ceased menopause was confirmed by the medroxy- progesterone
acetate test. Ambulatory and Clinic blood pressures were then
obtained 6 months and one year after menopause and compared to those
obtained one year prior to menopause. Clinic systolic blood pressure
significantly increased from 122± 14 one year before to
129± 15 one year post. Clinic diastolic blood pressure, clinic
heart rate, ambulatory diastolic, ambulatory systolic and ambulatory
heart rate did not change.
Comment: The authors conclude that menopause significantly
increases clinic but not ambulatory blood pressure suggesting and
increased alarm response. Perhaps a more accurate method of looking
at the data would be to look at daytime and night time systolic and
diastolic blood pressure on the ambulatory readings. Perhaps
alterations in nighttime dipping status or degree effected the mean
blood pressures. Comparing daytime blood pressure to clinic pressure
may give a better correlation. There was not a significant increase
in clinic heart rate following menopause which might be expected if
the difference is differences in the alarm reaction. (Betsy
Ripley, M.D., Medical College of Virginia)
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12th Annual ASH Meeting
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Ambulatory monitoring