Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify 24 hours blood pressure variations among adults over 40 years of age.
Method: The participants(50 adults) were recruited from P hospital and B company. The participants were divided into normotensive and hypertensive tendency groups and then sub-divided into non-dipper, dipper, and extreme dipper. The data were collected from April, 2003 to September, 2004 and analyzed using SPSS for Window program.
Results: 1) There were significant differences in cardiovascular risk factor, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and LDH, diet between the normotensive and hypertensive tendency groups. 2) Dippers in both groups showed a marked decrease in blood pressure during the night, but non-dippers in both groups didn’t show a marked nocturnal decrease in blood pressure. 3) There were significant differences in heart rate, WHR, BMI, LDH, triglyceride, glucose, affective-oriented coping strategies between dippers and non-dippers. 4) There were significant differences in heart rate, WHR, BMI, LDH, triglyceride, affective-oriented coping strategies between dipper and non-dipper within hypertensive tendency group.
Conclusion: Further studies are needed to provide effective intervention in hypertension when applying 24 hour blood pressure monitoring.
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