[Characteristics of circadian rhythms of arterial pressure in patients with hypertensive disease engaged in intense shiftwork activities].

Pathophysiological mechanisms underlying disturbances of circadian rhythms and arterial pressure (AP) were studied in 225 subjects engaged in intense shiftwork activities. Group 1 included 65 persons presenting with borderline arterial hypertension (AH), group 2 69 patients with stage 1 hypertensive disease (HD), group 3 61 patients with stage 2 HD. Control groups was comprised of 30 health volunteers working under similar conditions. Increased severity of HB was shown to impair adaptation to ambient conditions and desynchronization of circadian AP periodicity. The highest AP values during 24-hour monitoring were recorded during night shifts; they failed to fall down to normal values even at rest. Non-dippers exhibited enhanced variability of AP at the earliest stages of the disease suggesting dysfunction of the blood circulation system. This phenomenon may serve as unfavourable prognostic criterion to be taken into account in the evaluation of patients" conditions and assessment of efficiency of therapeutic and preventive measures.