Pulse pressure measured by home blood pressure monitoring and its correlation to left ventricular mass index.

OBJECTIVE: Measure the systolic (SP), diastolic (DP) and pulse pressure (PP) using home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) and correlate its values with the left ventricular mass index (LVMI).

METHODS: In 2004, 127 individuals underwent HBPM in a private clinic. A total of 83 of these also underwent an echocardiographic study in a period shorter than 6 months. After excluding those with dilated or ischaemic cardiomyopathy and those with mitral or aortic valvopathies, 72 patients were evaluated for the correlation between SP, DP and PP (SP minus DP) and the LVMI.

RESULTS: The group's mean age was 51.9 +/- 17.3 years and the masculine gender represented 43% of their components. The mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.6 +/- 6 kg/m(2) and 53% of the patients were using antihypertensive drugs. The PS and PP correlated positively to the LVMI (r = 0.356; p = 0.002 e r = 0.429; p < 0.001, respectively). There was no correlation between DP and LVMI.

CONCLUSION: The PS and the PP correlate positively to the LVMI.