Morning BP surge raises stroke risk in women

An Australian analysis of the Ohasama trial, a 10-year population-based study of 996 Japanese women and 556 men, some of whom were on treatment for hypertension at the time, found a U-shaped relationship with cardiovascular risk, particularly stroke in females.

The researchers developed a measure of the morning surge dubbed ‘BP power’.

This showed that a lack of morning rise in BP power was also a major risk factor for CV death and non-fatal stroke, particularly in women, the Hypertension Sydney conference was due to hear this week.