2.5. 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure
An ambulatory ECG blood pressure recorder (model BOX) manufactured by Zhongjian Instrument Co., Ltd in Wuxi City, Jiangsu Province, was used to monitor the following parameters: 24-hour mean systolic blood pressure (24hSBP), 24-hour mean diastolic blood pressure (24hDBP), mean systolic blood pressure during the daytime (dSBP), mean diastolic blood pressure during the daytime (dDBP), mean systolic blood pressure during the night (nSBP), and mean diastolic blood pressure during the night. These measurements were taken the day before and after the 12-week intervention period. Monitoring commenced at 8:30 and concluded at 8:30 the following day. For daytime monitoring (6:00–22:00), the ambulatory ECG and blood pressure recorder were configured to record data every 30 minutes. The cuff was automatically inflated to measure the blood pressure during this period. During nighttime monitoring (22:00–6:00 the next day), blood pressure was measured every 60 minutes using the same automatic cuff inflation method. Patients were instructed to keep their hands still and rest their arms naturally on their sides during blood pressure measurements using an ambulatory blood pressure instrument. This protocol ensured a minimum of one blood pressure reading per hour throughout the monitoring period, with at least 20 readings during the day and 7 reading at night. Additionally, the study aimed to obtain adequate blood pressure readings constituting over 70% of the total monitoring time.