[Diurnal fluctuations of arterial blood pressure and heart rate in patients with atrial fibrillation].

In patients with atrial fibrillation and in patients with sinus rhythm aged below and over 40 years 24-hour automatic measurement of systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure was carried out. The systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure in atrial fibrillation was higher than in patients with sinus rhythm, both during daily activities and during night rest. The heart rate in those below 40 years showed greater diurnal fluctuations than in atrial fibrillation and patients aged over 40 years. Moreover, circadian systolic and diastolic blood pressure recordings were lower in night hours, similarly as heart rate values an all the studied groups, and only in the group of atrial fibrillation the differences between the parameters recorded during the night and in daytime were not so evident as in the groups with sinus rhythm.