Fragmented QRS and blood pressure pattern in normotensive individuals with a history of preeclampsia

Abstract

Background/Aim: Hypertension is well defined in preeclamptic individuals and those with a history of preeclampsia. However, the relationship between blood pressure pattern and fragmented QRS on electrocardiography (ECG) has not been elucidated in normotensive patients with a history of preeclampsia. This study aimed to investigate the frequency of non-dipper blood pressure (BP) patterns in normotensive individuals with a history of preeclampsia and to evaluate the relevance of this pattern to fragmented QRS (fQRS). Methods: Sixty-three normotensive (office BP measurement) patients with a history of preeclampsia were included in this study between August 2020 and January 2021. These individuals underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring. The patients were divided into two groups as dipper and non-dipper, according to their BP patterns. The two groups were compared in terms of echocardiographic parameters, laboratory values, and QRS fragmentation on ECG. Results: Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) diagnosed by echocardiography (P= 0.015) and fQRS on ECG (P=0.002) were significantly higher in the non-dipper group than in the dipper group. Tricuspid regurgitation velocity (P=0.004) and average E/e' ratio (P