Abstract:Objective To analyze the correlation of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) with the risk of lower limb arteriosclerosis in morning hypertensive patients in order to provide reference data for early prevention of arteriosclerosis in them. Methods According to the results of 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, 100 patients with morning hypertension admitted in our hospital from November 2010 to November 2015 were randomly enrolled in the study. Color Doppler ultrasonography was used to observe lower extremity limb arteriosclerosis and measure baPWV and ankle-brachial index. Then the patients were accordingly divided into 4 groups, namely, normal group, and mild, moderate and severe arteriosclerosis groups. Medical history, biochemical indicators, and ambulatory blood pressures were analyzed for the correlation of risk for lower limb arteriosclerosis with baPWV. Results The patients having diabetes, hyperlipidemia, coronary heart disease and history of cerebral infarction had more severe lower limb arteriosclerosis (P<0.05). Parameters as mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure(24hSBP), mean daytime SBP(dSBP) and night SBP(nSBP) had no obvious correlation with the severity of atherosclerosis (P>0.05), but mean 24h diastolic blood pressure(24hDBP), mean daytime diastolic blood pressure (dDBP), and mean night DBP(nDBP) had the correlation (P<0.05). Conclusion Morning hypertension is closely related to lower extremity atherosclerosis. baPWV can be regarded as a simple and effective indicator to assess the early arterial stiffness in the patients with morning hypertension. The hardening of the arteries is correlated to DBP but not to SBP.