This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 41/6/1259    most recent 01.HYP.0000072335.73748.0Dv1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hermida, R. C. Articles by Covelo, M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hermida, R. C. Articles by Covelo, M. Pubmed/NCBI databases Compound via MeSH Substance via MeSH Hazardous Substances DB ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID Medline Plus Health Information High Blood Pressure Related Collections Secondary prevention Clinical Studies

(Hypertension. 2003;41:1259.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Administration Time–Dependent Effects of Aspirin on Blood Pressure in Untreated Hypertensive Patients

Ramón C. Hermida; Diana E. Ayala; Carlos Calvo; José E. López; José R. Fernández; Artemio Mojón; María J. Domínguez; Manuel Covelo

From Bioengineering and Chronobiology Laboratories, University of Vigo (R.C.H., D.E.A., J.R.F., A.M.), Campus Universitario, Vigo, Spain; and the Hypertension and Vascular Risk Unit, Hospital Clínico Universitario (C.C., J.E.L., M.J.D., M.C.), Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Correspondence to Prof Ramón C. Hermida, PhD, Bioengineering and Chronobiology Labs, E.T.S.I. Telecomunicación, Campus Universitario, VIGO (Pontevedra) 36200, Spain. E-mail rhermida{at}tsc.uvigo.es

Previous studies on the potential influence of aspirin on blood pressure have not taken into consideration the chronopharmacological effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This pilot study investigates the effects of aspirin on blood pressure in untreated hypertensive patients who received aspirin at different times of the day according to their rest-activity cycle. We studied 100 untreated patients with mild hypertension (34 men and 66 women), 42.5±11.6 (mean±SD) years of age, randomly divided into 3 groups: nonpharmacological hygienic-dietary recommendations; the same recommendations and aspirin (100 mg/d) on awakening; or the same recommendations and aspirin before bedtime. Blood pressure was measured every 20 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night for 48 consecutive hours before and after 3 months of intervention. The circadian pattern of blood pressure in each group was established by population multiple-component analysis. After 3 months of nonpharmacological intervention, there was a small, nonsignificant reduction of blood pressure (<1.1 mm Hg; P>0.341). There was no change in blood pressure when aspirin was given on awakening (P=0.229). A highly significant blood pressure reduction was, however, observed in the patients who received aspirin before bedtime (decrease of 6 and 4 mm Hg in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively; P<0.001). Results indicate a statistically significant administration time–dependent effect of low-dose aspirin on blood pressure in untreated patients with mild hypertension. The influence of aspirin on blood pressure demonstrated in this study indicates the need to quantify and control for aspirin effects in patients using this drug in combination with antihypertensive medication.

Key Words: antihypertensive agents • blood pressure monitoring, ambulatory • heart rate • hypertension, mild • drug therapy • circadian rhythm

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. J. Sole and T. A. Martino Diurnal physiology: core principles with application to the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of myocardial hypertrophy and failure J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2009; 107(4): 1318 - 1327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Hermida, D. E. Ayala, C. Calvo, J. E. Lopez, A. Mojon, M. Rodriguez, and J. R. Fernandez Differing Administration Time-Dependent Effects of Aspirin on Blood Pressure in Dipper and Non-Dipper Hypertensives Hypertension, October 1, 2005; 46(4): 1060 - 1068. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Hermida, D. E. Ayala, C. Calvo, and J. E. Lopez Aspirin Administered at Bedtime, But Not on Awakening, Has an Effect on Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 20, 2005; 46(6): 975 - 983. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. Lopez-Rodriguez, M. P. Rodriguez-Ledo, R. C. Hermida, D. E. Ayala, C. Calvo, J. E. Lopez, J. R. Fernandez, A. Mojon, M. J. Dominguez, and M. Covelo Aspirin, Chance, and Results in Relation to Blood Pressure * Response: Aspirin Administered at Bedtime as Opposed to Upon Wakening Has an Effect on Ambulatory Blood Pressure: Further Evidence Hypertension, April 1, 2004; 43(4): e22 - e23. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Doctor, When Should I Take My Aspirin? Journal Watch Cardiology, August 1, 2003; 2003(801): 1 - 1. [Full Text]