SUMMARYThirty men (aged 35—65) with untreated essential hypertension (BP≧140/90), confirmed by 24-h ambulatory monitoring, had overnight recordings of arterial oxygen saturation (S2, O2) in their own homes. The overnight saturation records were compared with those from a group of 30 normotensive control subjects matched for age, height and weight. The groups did not exhibit significant differences in any of the following parameters of overnight oxygenation: median S2O2, lowest Sa, O2or frequency of 3 or 4 per cent dips in S2, O2. We conclude that essential hypertension is not associated with excessive arterial hypoxaemia such as might be due to a sleep apnoea syndr
展开▼
