Evaluation of blood pressure changes by 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2

Background In recent years an increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus type 2 can be observed, which is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and significant factor in the development of late vascular complications of the diseases is hypertension. Aim of the research was to evaluate twenty-four-hour alteration in blood pressure in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2. Material and methods 111 of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 without recognized hypertension in the period preceding the ABPM test were examined. Control group consisted of 80 healthy persons without the carbohydrate metabolism disorders. In both groups 24h ABPM was performed, to measure the blood pressure level during daytime (from 6 am to 9:59 pm, readings at 20 minutes intervals) and at night (from 10 pm to 5: 59 am, readings at 30 minutes intervals). Results During twenty-four-hours, significant between group differences of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels were observed. During daytime the systolic blood pressure levels were higher in diabetes mellitus type 2 group: SBP 128.29 +/- 14.3 mm Hg v. 121.81 +/- 8.69; p < 0.05. During daytime, no significant differences in the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were observed between the two groups. In the night hours, the SBP and DBP levels in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 were considerably higher in comparison with the healthy persons: SBP 117.01 +/- 15.29 mm Hg v. 101.39 +/- 7.06 mm Hg; p = 0.000000 and DBP 68.3 +/- 11.92 mm Hg v. 60.92 +/- +/- 6.15 mm Hg; p = 0.000005. Conclusions 1. Suppression of the diurnal blood pressure variations in over 80% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. 2. Higher diurnal blood pressure in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 in comparison with the control group. 3. Higher systolic blood pressure during night in the case of patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 than in the case of healthy persons.