Clinical Report: Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring-Derived Short-Term BP Variability

Overview

This study evaluates the predictive value of short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) from 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for subclinical target organ damage (TOD) in patients with essential hypertension.

Background

Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, leading to target organ damage (TOD) that can progress to severe health outcomes. Recent studies suggest that blood pressure variability (BPV) may provide additional prognostic information beyond traditional blood pressure measurements.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Nighttime SBP SD, 24-h SBP ARV, and nighttime SBP ARV were identified as independent predictors of subclinical TOD.
• The TOD group exhibited significantly higher BPV parameters across 24-h, daytime, and nighttime periods (all P < 0.001).
• ROC analysis indicated nighttime SBP SD had an AUC of 0.837, with a sensitivity of 89.4% and specificity of 78.0%.
• Subgroup analyses confirmed nighttime SBP SD's predictive value for cardiac, vascular, and renal TOD.
• 24-h SBP ARV was predictive of cardiac and vascular injury.

Clinical Implications

The findings suggest that monitoring nighttime blood pressure variability can enhance the assessment of subclinical target organ damage in hypertensive patients. Clinicians may consider incorporating ABPM-derived BPV metrics into routine evaluations to better identify patients at risk for organ damage.

Conclusion

Nighttime systolic blood pressure variability is a predictor of subclinical target organ damage in hypertension.

Related Resources & Content

1. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2025 -- From variability to vulnerability: the prognostic significance of blood pressure fluctuations
2. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 2025 -- Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and cardiovascular outcomes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis
3. Frontiers in Neurology, 2025 -- Blood pressure variability plays a critical role in determining the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke combined with hypertension
4. 2025 High Blood Pressure (BP) Guideline - Professional Heart Daily | American Heart Association
5. Critical Care (Springer) — AI-driven carotid artery compressibility assessment via point-of-care ultrasound for blood pressure estimation in critically ill and post-resuscitation patients: a prospective observational study
6. 2025 High Blood Pressure (BP) Guideline - Professional Heart Daily | American Heart Association
7. Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability and outcome: a traditional and a dose–response meta-analysis | European Journal of Preventive Cardiology | Oxford Academic