Comparative characteristics of patients with arterial hypertension with positive and negative reactions to salt load at night time

Abstract

Objective: comparison of peripheral and central blood pressure, vascular wall stiffness and glomerular filtration rate in patients divided into salt-sensitive and salt-resistant based on the dynamics of blood pressure during night time after salt loading.Materials and methods: the study included 180 patients with arterial hypertension: 96 men (53%) and 84 (47%) women, median age 59 (56-64) years. Salt sensitivity was assessed according to the method of V.I. Kharchenko with distribution into groups according to the results of blood pressure dynamics at night. Peripheral and central blood pressure, vascular stiffness, and glomerular filtration rate were compared.Results: in 61% of salt resistant patients, there was a sufficient decrease in blood pressure during nocturnal sleep — the “dipper” profile, while in the group of salt sensitive patients, the decrease in blood pressure was sufficient only in 48%. Glomerular filtration rate was also higher in salt resistant patients compared to salt sensitive: 76,5 ml/min./1.73m2 versus 68 ml/min./1,73m2.Conclusion: arterial hypertension is more severe in salt sensitive patients, which was reflected in the intergroup comparison of peripheral and central blood pressure, vascular stiffness, and excretory function of the kidneys. Assessment of salt sensitivity at night may be useful in identifying high-risk groups of patients requiring the most careful monitoring and “aggressive” antihypertensive therapy.