The optimal timing of antihypertensive medication administration for morning hypertension in patients with cerebral infarction

Morning hypertension is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, particularly stroke. However, the optimal time at which to take antihypertensive medication to treat morning hypertension remains unclear. We prospectively enrolled elderly patients (over 65 years old) with morning hypertension who had suffered an ischemic stroke (or strokes). Additional treatments (one of six arms) were randomly administered for 10 weeks in the morning, in the evening or at bedtime (n=15 for each time point/medication). The patients measured their blood pressure and heart rate at home for 14 days prior to the intervention and for the final 14 days, and recorded the data in a blood pressure diary. The patients' urinary albumin/creatinine ratios were evaluated before and after the 10-week intervention. A total of 270 patients were enrolled in this study (mean age: 75.6±5.8 years; female/male ratio: 125/145). Their morning and evening systolic blood pressures were significantly decreased after following any of the study medication dosing schedules (P