Locomotive syndrome is associated with large blood pressure variability in elderly hypertensives: the Japan Ambulatory Blood Pressure Prospective (JAMP) substudy

Chronic pain, represented by locomotive syndrome ( LS ), and psychosocial factors are possible factors of blood pressure (BP) variability ( BPV ). The authors tested the hypothesis that there are links among LS , depression, and BPV . In 85 Japanese elderly hypertensive patients with normal daily activities, the authors performed ambulatory BP monitoring, determined the LS scale ( LSS ), and administered the Self‐Rating Questionnaire for Depression ( SRQD ). The LSS score but not the SRQD score was associated with the standard deviation ( SD ) and coefficient of variation ( CV ) of daytime systolic BP ( SBP ) and SD of nighttime SBP (all P <.05). Higher LSS score (in quartiles) was associated with a higher SD of daytime SBP ( P =.041), even after adjusting for covariates. Regarding the components of the LSS score, movement‐related difficulty and usual care difficulty were associated with the SD and CV of daytime SBP . In elderly hypertensive patients, the LSS score was associated with exaggerated systolic BPV . The LS state could be an important determinant of systolic BPV .