Abstract
Circadian variations of arterial blood pressure (ABP) measured by ambulatory BP monitoring demonstrate a `dipper` pattern in healthy individuals of both genders, with a decline in nocturnal ABP. `Nondipper` ABP circadian pattern is considered abnormal because of its association with advanced target organs damage and worse prognosis (1). Patients with secondary hypertension and some patients with primary hypertension have a high risk of stroke, and abnormal circadian ABP patterns are more prevalent in patients with stroke (70%-90% versus <50% in nonstroke populations) (1, 2).
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