Masked Hypertension in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Rationale:

Obstructive sleep apnoea is characterized by repetitive closure of upper airways leading to apnoea (complete airflow cessation) or hypopnoea (airflow limitation > 50%+ blood oxygen desaturation > 4%). It is considered to be an important risk factor for arterial hypertension. In these patients is highly prevalent nocturnal hypertension (NH) and also masked hypertension (MH). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is considered to be a gold standard for the diagnosis of NH and MH. Results of ABPM are compared with office blood pressure measurement which could be falsely elevated in some patients (white coat effect). For this reason, automatic office blood pressure measurement was developed. Nowadays some devices like BpTRU were developed. This was validated on some patient groups but robust data for patients with obstructive sleep apnoea are missing.

Process:

Patient with ronchopathy and suspected obstructive sleep apnoea undergo automated office blood pressure monitoring followed by office blood pressure monitoring at the Department of Exercise Medicine and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation. After education, ambulatory blood pressure monitor will be provided to patients for the following 24 hours. In the same night, respiratory polygraphy will be performed in the Sleep Laboratory, Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital Olomouc. All data will be statistically evaluated after completion of the target number of subjects. Patients without obstructive sleep apnoea (apnoea-hypopnoea index < 5) will not be included in statistical evaluations.

Inclusion criteria

• Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Exclusion criteria

• Non- compliance of patients with blood pressure monitoring