Nocturnal Hypertension and Subclinical Cardiac and Carotid Damage: An Updated Review and Meta-Analysis of Echocardiographic Studies

Evidence on the association of nocturnal hypertension (NH) with subclinical cardiac and vascular damage is scanty. The authors performed a meta-analysis to provide comprehensive information on this clinically relevant issue. Full articles providing data on subclinical cardiac and carotid damage as assessed by ultrasonographic methods in patients with NH as compared with patients with nocturnal normotension (NN) were considered. A total of 3657 patients (NH=2083, NN=1574) of both sexes were included in seven studies. Left ventricular mass index was higher in individuals with NH than in those with NN (112±4.7 g/m² vs 98±4.8 g/m²; standard mean difference [SMD], 0.54±0.16; confidence interval [CI], 0.23–0.85; P<.01). Similarly, common carotid intima-media thickness was greater in patients with NH than in those with NN (751±34 μm vs 653±14 μm; SMD, 0.44±0.08; CI, 0.29–0.59; P<.01). The present meta-analysis shows an association between NH pattern and increased likelihood of cardiac and carotid structural alterations.