Inverse Correlation Between Seasonal Changes in Home Blood Pressure and Atmospheric Temperature in Treated-Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

We examined the relationships between home blood pressure (BP) and atmospheric temperature in 20 treated-hypertensive patients. A significant correlation between morning and evening BP and atmospheric temperature was found. For morning systolic blood pressure (SBP), the maximal seasonal difference was 13.2 mmHg with 25.5°C temperature difference. Morning SBP increased by approximately 0.41 mmHg with a 1°C decrease in atmospheric temperature. A similar but weaker correlation with temperature was observed for morning diastolic, evening systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The present study provides important information in respect to BP changes with atmospheric temperature that should be taken into account in the analysis and treatment of hypertension.

Keywords:

• hypertension
• seasonal variation
• temperature
• self-measurement
• home blood pressure