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Morning blood pressure surge in young black and white adults: The African-PREDICT Study

A Correction to this article was published on 19 November 2018

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Abstract

An exaggerated morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) has independent predictive value for cardiovascular mortality and is suggested to be prevalent in elderly hypertensive patients: men and white populations. To better understand the MBPS profile in a young and normotensive population, we evaluated the MBPS in young adults and explored associations with demographic, cardiovascular and health behaviour measurements. We included 845 black (n = 439) and white (n = 406) men and women aged between 20 and 30 years. We calculated the sleep-trough and dynamic morning surge, and compared demographic data, health behaviours and ambulatory blood pressure according to MBPS quartiles. In the total group, higher waist circumference, socioeconomic score, lean mass, ambulatory blood pressure (24-h, daytime blood pressure) and increased night-time dipping (all p < 0.05) were found in the highest sleep-trough and dynamic morning surge quartiles. In the total white group, particularly men, both sleep-trough and dynamic morning surge were higher than the black group (all p < 0.013). More black participants were non-dippers than whites (44% vs 34%; p = 0.004). In multivariable adjusted regression in the total group, we found no consistent associations of MBPS with demographic and health behaviour measurements. MBPS related independently and positively with night-time percentage dipping in all ethnic groups (all p < 0.01). Ethnic differences in MBPS is evident in young adults, with a higher, but normal MBPS in white men. A non-dipping night-time pattern in young black adults (with reduced MBPS) and a higher MBPS (observed in dippers) may serve as potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

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  • 19 November 2018

    In the article “Morning blood pressure surge in young black and white adults: The African-PREDICT Study” by Gontse Gratitude Mokwatsi, Aletta Elisabeth Schutte, Catharina Martha Cornelia Mels and Ruan Kruger which appeared in ‘Journal of Human Hypertension’ (2018) volume 32, DOI 10.1038/s41371-018-0089-3, the authors regret that they mentioned erroneously that none of their study participants had an exaggerated morning blood pressure surge. They would like to point out that 40 participants in their study population had an exaggerated sleep-trough surge whereas 128 had an exaggerated dynamic surge.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful towards all individuals participating voluntarily in the study. The dedication of the support and research staff as well as students at the Hypertension Research and Training Clinic at the North-West University are also duly acknowledged.

Funding

The African-PREDICT study is an ongoing study financially supported by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) with funds from National Treasury under its Economic Competitiveness and Support Package; the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology and National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa; the Strategic Health Innovation Partnerships (SHIP) Unit of the SAMRC with funds received from the South African National Department of Health, GlaxoSmithKline R&D, the UK Medical Research Council and with funds from the UK Government’s Newton Fund; as well as corporate social investment grants from Pfizer (South Africa), Boehringer-Ingelheim (South Africa), Novartis (South Africa), the Medi Clinic Hospital Group (South Africa) and in kind contributions of Roche Diagnostics (South Africa). Any opinion, findingsand conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material arethose of the authors and therefore the NRF does not accept any liabilityin regard thereto.

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Correspondence to Ruan Kruger.

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Mokwatsi, G.G., Schutte, A.E., Mels, C.M.C. et al. Morning blood pressure surge in young black and white adults: The African-PREDICT Study. J Hum Hypertens 33, 22–33 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0089-3

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