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  • Review Article
  • Topical Collection - Digital Hypertension
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Monitoring with wearable devices will clarify the association between indoor temperature and blood pressure

Hypertension Research volume 46, pages 1450–1455 (2023)Cite this article

Abstract

The association of blood pressure and temperature is well known in seasonal observation, and low temperature in the winter season is often considered a cause of high blood pressure. The current evidence for short-term studies of temperature and blood pressure is based on the daily observation, however continuous monitoring with wearable devices will allow us to evaluate the rapid effect of cold temperature exposure on blood pressure. In a Japanese, prospective intervention study from 2014 to 2019 (the Smart Wellness Housing survey), approximately 90% of Japanese lived in cold houses (indoor temperature less than 18 °C). Importantly, the indoor temperature was associated with the increase of morning systolic blood pressure. We recently addressed the sympathetic nervous activation of individuals in both their houses and a highly insulated and airtight model house in the winter season using portable electrocardiography equipment. A few subjects showed a morning surge in sympathetic activity, which was more intense at their cold houses, which suggests the importance of the indoor environment in the management of early morning hypertension. In near future, real-time monitoring with wearable devices will provide important information for a better life-environment, leading to risk reduction of morning surge and cardiovascular events.

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Funding

Funding

This study was partially supported by a collaboration research fund from the Asahi Kasei Construction Materials Corporation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Development and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka, Japan

    Hironori Nakagami

  2. Asahi Kasei Construction Materials Corporation, 1-105 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, Japan

    Hiroki Otsuka & Hitoshi Akiyama

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  1. Hironori Nakagami
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  2. Hiroki Otsuka
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  3. Hitoshi Akiyama
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Contributions

HN wrote the paper. HO and HA: Data collection and support for analysis. All authors drafted the paper and approved the final version for submission.

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Correspondence to Hironori Nakagami.

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Conflict of interest

The Department of Health Development and Medicine is an endowed department supported by Anges, Daicel, and FunPep. Hiroshi Akiyama and Hiroki Otsuka are employees of the Asahi Kasei Construction Materials Corporation.

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Nakagami, H., Otsuka, H. & Akiyama, H. Monitoring with wearable devices will clarify the association between indoor temperature and blood pressure. Hypertens Res 46, 1450–1455 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01261-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-023-01261-7

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