Automated office blood pressure is in agreement with awake and mean 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure at the lower blood pressure range

Automated office blood pressure measurement eliminates the white coat effect and is associated with awake ambulatory blood pressure. This study examined whether automated office blood pressure values at lower limits were comparable to those of awake and mean 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure. A total of 552 patients were included in the study, involving 293 (53.1%) men and 259 (46.9%) women, with a mean age 55.0 ± 12.5, of whom 36% were treated for hypertension. Both systolic and diastolic automated office blood pressures exhibited lower values compared to awake ambulatory blood pressure among 254 individuals with systolic automated office blood pressure <130 mm Hg (119 ± 8 mm Hg vs 125 ± 11 mm Hg, P < .0001 and 75 ± 9 mm Hg vs 79 ± 9 mm Hg, P < .0001 for systolic and diastolic BPs, respectively). Furthermore, the comparison of systolic automated office blood pressure to the mean 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure levels also showed lower values (119 ± 8 vs 121 ± 10, P = .007), whereas the diastolic automated office blood pressure measurements were similar to 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure values. Our findings show that when automated office blood pressure readings express values <130/80 mm Hg in repeated office visits, further investigation should be performed only when masked hypertension is suspected; otherwise, higher automated office blood pressure values could be used for the diagnosis of uncontrolled hypertension, especially in individuals with organ damage.     

Efficacy and safety of twice‐ vs once‐daily dosing of lisinopril for hypertension

This retrospective cohort study compared administration of lisinopril twice daily and once daily for hypertension. Data were collected from an ambulatory electronic health record between 2011 and 2014. Patients previously receiving lisinopril 20 mg were placed into the once‐daily cohort if changed to 40 mg once daily or into the twice‐daily cohort if changed to 20 mg twice daily. Efficacy outcome measures were change in systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure and achievement of blood pressure control (<140/90 mm Hg). Of 90 patients included (45 per cohort), the mean age was 61.8 years and 17.8% were black. Once‐ and twice‐daily administrations were associated with blood pressure reductions of 6.2/1.5 mm Hg and 16.5/5.9 mm Hg, with a 10.2/4.3 mm Hg greater reduction with twice‐daily administration (systolic blood pressure, P=.016; diastolic blood pressure, P=.068). Twice‐daily lisinopril dosing was associated with greater systolic blood pressure reductions compared with the same total daily dose administered once daily.     

Hypertension burden and challenges across the hypertension treatment cascade among adults enrolled in HIV care in northern Tanzania

Failure to address hypertension among people living with HIV (PLWH) may undermine the significant progress made toward reducing mortality among this high‐risk population in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). Here, the authors report hypertension prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment among patients enrolled in HIV care in Tanzania. Patients attending an HIV clinic were consecutively screened for hypertension. Hypertension was defined as follows: a single blood pressure measurement ≥160 mm Hg systolic or ≥100 mm Hg diastolic, two measurements at separate visits ≥140 mm Hg systolic or ≥90 mm Hg diastolic, or self‐reported hypertension diagnosis. The authors screened 555 patients, and 19.6% met hypertension criteria. Among a subset of 91 hypertensive participants, 44 (48.4%) reported previous blood pressure measurements, 32 (35.2%) were aware of diagnosis, 10 (11.0%) reported current antihypertensive use, and none had controlled blood pressure. Addressing barriers along the hypertension treatment cascade must be a top priority to improve cardiovascular outcomes among PLWH in SSA.     

Association between HIV and blood pressure in adults and role of body weight as a mediator: Cross‐sectional study in Uganda

The authors sought to describe the association between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and blood pressure (BP) levels, and determined the extent to which this relationship is mediated by body weight in a cross‐sectional study of HIV‐infected and HIV‐uninfected controls matched by age, sex, and neighborhood. Mixed‐effects models were fit to determine the association between HIV and BP and amount of effect of HIV on BP mediated through body mass index. Data were analyzed from 577 HIV‐infected and 538 matched HIV‐uninfected participants. HIV infection was associated with 3.3 mm Hg lower systolic BP (1.2‐5.3 mm Hg), 1.5 mm Hg lower diastolic BP (0.2‐2.9 mm Hg), 0.3 m/s lower pulse wave velocity (0.1‐0.4 mm Hg), and 30% lower odds of hypertension (10%‐50%). Body mass index mediated 25% of the association between HIV and systolic BP. HIV infection was inversely associated with systolic BP, diastolic BP, and pulse wave velocity. Comprehensive community‐based programs to routinely screen for cardiovascular risk factors irrespective of HIV status should be operationalized in HIV‐endemic countries.     

High prevalence of masked uncontrolled morning hypertension in elderly non‐valvular atrial fibrillation patients: Home blood pressure substudy of the ANAFIE Registry

In the ANAFIE Registry home blood pressure subcohort, we evaluated 5204 patients aged ≥75 years with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) to assess blood pressure (BP) control, prevalence of masked hypertension, and anticoagulant use. Mean clinic (C) and home (H) systolic/diastolic BP(SBP/DBP) was 128.5/71.3 and 127.7/72.6 mm Hg, respectively. Overall, 77.5% of patients had hypertension; of these, 27.7%, 13.4%, 23.4%, and 35.6% had well‐controlled, white coat, masked, and sustained hypertension, respectively. Masked hypertension prevalence increased with diabetes, decreased renal function, age ≥80 years, current smoker status, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. By morning/evening average, 59.0% of patients had mean H‐SBP ≥ 125 mm Hg; 48.9% had mean C‐SBP ≥ 130 mm Hg. Early morning hypertension (morning H‐SBP ≥ 125 mm Hg) was found in 65.9% of patients. Although 51.1% of patients had well‐controlled C‐SBP, 52.5% of these had uncontrolled morning H‐SBP. In elderly NVAF patients, morning H‐BP was poorly controlled, and masked uncontrolled morning hypertension remains significant.     

Systolic orthostatic hypotension is related to lowered cognitive function: Findings from the Maine‐Syracuse Longitudinal Study

The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship between orthostatic changes in blood pressure (BP) and cognition, with consideration given to cardiovascular risk factors and lifestyle variables. The cross‐sectional analysis included 961 community‐dwelling participants of the Maine‐Syracuse Longitudinal Study, for whom BP clinic measures (five sitting, five recumbent, and five standing) were obtained. Eighteen percent of participants had orthostatic hypotension (fall in systolic BP ≥20 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥10 mm Hg upon standing) and 6% had orthostatic hypertension (rise in systolic BP ≥20 mm Hg). Orthostatic hypotension and hypertension defined using traditional criteria were unrelated to cognition with covariate adjustment. However, an examination of systolic and diastolic BP change independently revealed that participants with systolic orthostatic hypotension had poorer global cognition, verbal memory, and scanning and tracking scores than those with normal systolic BP change. The authors conclude that systolic orthostatic hypotension is significantly associated with reduced cognitive function.     

Sleep Blood Pressure Self‐Measured at Home as a Novel Determinant of Organ Damage: Japan Morning Surge Home Blood Pressure (J‐HOP) Study

To study whether sleep blood pressure (BP) self‐measured at home is associated with organ damage, the authors analyzed the data of 2562 participants in the J‐HOP study who self‐measured sleep BP using a home BP monitoring (HBPM) device, three times during sleep (2 am , 3 am , 4 am ), as well as the home morning and evening BPs. The mean sleep home systolic BPs (SBPs) were all correlated with urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), maximum carotid intima‐media thickness, and plasma N‐terminal pro‐hormone pro–brain‐type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) (all P<.001). After controlling for clinic SBP and home morning and evening SBPs, associations of home sleep SBP with UACR, LVMI, and baPWV remained significant (all P<.008). Even in patients with home morning BP <135/85 mm Hg, 27% exhibited masked nocturnal hypertension with home sleep SBP ≥120 mm Hg and had higher UACR and NTproBNP. Masked nocturnal hypertension, which is associated with advanced organ damage, remains unrecognized by conventional HBPM.     

Determination of optimal on‐treatment diastolic blood pressure range using automated measurements in subjects with cardiovascular disease—Analysis of a SPRINT trial subpopulation

Automated office blood pressure measurement (AOBPM) is recommended for diagnosing hypertension; however, optimal treatment targets using this method are not established. Discrepancies between automated and office measurements of blood pressure have been described, producing uncertainty regarding the use of AOBPM in clinical practice. The Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) results improved our understanding of target AOBPM systolic blood pressure (SBP) levels; however, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) targets remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to determine the optimal on‐treatment DBP range. The analysis was performed on the participants of the SPRINT trial who had hypertension and prior cardiovascular disease. We analyzed the data of 1470 participants (mean age 70.3 ± 9.3 years, 24.1% female) selected from the SPRINT trial database of National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The mean achieved SBP and DBP were 127.9 ± 10.7 and 68.3 ± 9.4 mm Hg, respectively. Most of the participants (57.4%) had a DBP lower than 70 mm Hg, while only 11.7% had DPB ≥80 mm Hg. Clinical composite endpoint was defined as myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome not resulting in myocardial infarction, stroke, acute decompensated heart failure or death from cardiovascular causes. There were 159 (10.8%) clinical endpoint events. The participants with on‐treatment AOBPM DBP range of 68.6‐78.6 mm Hg showed the lowest hazard risk of a clinical composite endpoint. These results correspond to the office DBP range of 70‐80 mm Hg recommended in ESC guidelines. This is the first attempt to determine the range of optimal DBP values using population‐based AOBPM in patients with prior cardiovascular disease.     

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Resistant Hypertension: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This study aimed to analyze the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on blood pressure (BP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and resistant hypertension. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of CPAP on BP in patients with OSA and resistant hypertension, indexed in MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from inception until March 20, 2015, were included in the meta‐analysis. A total of five RCTs were identified to meet the inclusion criteria. The pooled changes after CPAP treatment for 24‐hour ambulatory systolic BP and diastolic BP (DBP) were −4.78 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI], −7.95 to −1.61) and −2.95 mm Hg (95% CI, −5.37 to −0.53) in favor of the CPAP group. CPAP was also associated with reduction in nocturnal DBP (mean difference, −1.53 mm Hg, 95% CI, −3.07 to 0). The results indicated a favorable reduction in BP with CPAP treatment in patients with OSA and resistant hypertension.     

A randomized controlled trial on the blood pressure–lowering effect of amlodipine and nifedipine‐GITS in sustained hypertension

In a multicenter, randomized trial, we investigated whether the long half‐time dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker amlodipine was more efficacious than the gastrointestinal therapeutic system (GITS) formulation of nifedipine in lowering ambulatory blood pressure (BP) in sustained hypertension (clinic systolic/diastolic BP 140‐179/90‐109 mm Hg and 24‐hour systolic/diastolic BP ≥ 130/80 mm Hg). Eligible patients were randomly assigned to amlodipine 5‐10 mg/day or nifedipine‐GITS 30‐60 mg/day. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed for 24 hours at baseline and 4‐week treatment and for 48 hours at 8‐week treatment with a dose of medication missed on the second day. After 8‐week treatment, BP was similarly reduced in the amlodipine (n = 257) and nifedipine‐GITS groups (n = 248) for both clinic and ambulatory (24‐hour systolic/diastolic BP 10.3/6.5 vs 10.9/6.3 mm Hg, P ≥ 0.24) measurements. However, after missing a dose of medication, ambulatory BP reductions were greater in the amlodipine than nifedipine‐GITS group, with a significant (P ≤ 0.04) between‐group difference in 24‐hour (–1.2 mm Hg) and daytime diastolic BP (–1.5 mm Hg). In conclusion, amlodipine and nifedipine‐GITS were efficacious in reducing 24‐hour BP. When a dose of medication was missed, amlodipine became more efficacious than nifedipine‐GITS.     

Daytime Systolic Ambulatory Blood Pressure With a Direct Switch Between Candesartan Monotherapy and the Fixed‐Dose Combination Olmesartan/Amlodipine in Patients With Uncontrolled Essential Hypertension (SEVICONTROL‐1)

A direct switch of candesartan to the fixed‐dose combination olmesartan/amlodipine in uncontrolled hypertension is a frequent clinical requirement but is not covered by current labeling. An open‐label, prospective, single‐arm phase IIIb study was performed in patients with 32 mg candesartan followed by olmesartan/amlodipine 40/10 mg. The primary endpoint was change in mean daytime systolic blood pressure (BP). Mean daytime systolic BP was reduced by 9.2±12.6 mm Hg (P<.0001) after substituting candesartan for olmesartan/amlodipine (baseline BP 140.2±9.7 mm Hg). The reduction in office BP was 9.4±18.4/4.0±9.6 mm Hg; P<.002). Overall, 61.3% of patients achieved a target BP <140/90 mm Hg using office BP and <135/85 mm Hg using ambulatory BP measurement. There were 8 adverse events with a possible relation to study drug and 1 unrelated serious adverse events. In conclusion, patients with uncontrolled moderate arterial hypertension being treated using candesartan monotherapy achieve a further reduction of BP when switched directly to a fixed‐dose combination of olmesartan 40 mg/amlodipine 10 mg.     

Traffic congestion and blood pressure elevation: A comparative cross‐sectional study in Lebanon

This comparative cross‐sectional study examines the association between traffic congestion and elevation of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure levels among a convenience sample of 310 drivers. Data collection took place during a gas station pause at a fixed time of day. Higher average systolic (142 vs 123 mm Hg) and diastolic (87 vs 78 mm Hg) blood pressures were detected among drivers exposed to traffic congestion compared with those who were not exposed (P<.001), while controlling for body mass index, age, sex, pack‐year smoking, driving hours per week, and occupational driving. Moreover, among persons exposed to traffic congestion, longer exposure time was associated with higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of the significant association between elevated blood pressure and traffic congestion.     

Association of interarm blood pressure difference with cardio‐cerebral vascular disease: A community‐based,cross‐sectional study

Interarm blood pressure difference (IAD) is a risk factor for peripheral artery disease and cardio‐cerebral vascular disease (CCVD). The current study examines the association of IAD with stroke and coronary heart disease in a Chinese community. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Pudong New Area in Shanghai, China. A total of 10 657 residents aged 15 years and older were randomly selected through three‐stage sampling. Volunteers had systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) measured in both arms at recruitment, and IAD was defined in both arms as the absolute difference in BP. Medical records of study participants were reviewed by investigators to confirm measurements. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between systolic interarm blood pressure difference (sIAD) and diastolic interarm blood pressure difference (dIAD) with stroke and coronary heart disease. Compared with dIAD <5 mm Hg, the multivariate adjusted odds ratio (OR) of stroke prevalence was 1.357 (95% CI 0.725‐2.542, P = 0.034) for dIAD ≥20 mm Hg and 1.702 (95% CI1.025‐2.828, P = 0.040) for dIAD between 15 and 19 mm Hg, and the multivariate adjusted OR of coronary heart disease prevalence was 1.726 (95% CI 1.093‐2.726, P = 0.019) for dIAD ≥20 mm Hg and 1.498 (95% CI 0.993‐2.261, P = 0.044) for dIAD between 15 and 19 mm Hg. The relationship between cardio‐cerebral vascular disease and dIAD was significant in a Chinese community population. Further cohort studies are needed to investigate the association of different levels of IAD with the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and subsequent mortality.     

Erectile Dysfunction and Target Organ Damage in the Early Stages of Hypertension

The authors investigated whether erectile dysfunction (ED) in the early stages of hypertension is associated with heightened end‐organ damage. A total of 174 consecutive men with untreated, newly diagnosed essential hypertension (aged 50.3 years, office blood pressure [BP] 150/98 mm Hg) were studied. All participants underwent 24‐hour ambulatory BP monitoring, blood examination, albumin‐creatinine ratio, carotid‐femoral pulse‐wave velocity assessment, and echocardiography for estimation of left ventricular mass index and diastolic function. Hypertensive men with ED (n=43, 24.7%) compared with those without ED were older (by 6.4 years, P<.05), had greater 24‐hour pulse pressure (by 4.3 mm Hg, P=.011) and a greater prevalence of nondipping status (72.2% vs 46.7%, P=.008), while the two groups did not differ in plasma glucose, lipid, creatinine, and albumin/creatinine ratio levels. Regarding cardiac adaptations, hypertensive men with ED exhibited only significantly lower tissue Doppler imaging–derived Em (by 1.6 cm/s, adjusted P=.035), while no difference in left ventricular mass index or pulse wave velocity were detected. ED in the setting of untreated newly diagnosed essential hypertension does not have an unfavorable impact on traditional markers of target organ damage. This finding suggests that ED assessment might not refine the traditional risk stratification procedure at least in the early stages of hypertensive disease.     

Regression to the mean in home blood pressure: Analyses of the BP GUIDE study

The aim of our study was to estimate the size of regression to the mean with home blood pressure (BP) monitoring and compare with that for office BP. Office and home BP measures were obtained from the BP GUIDE (value of central Blood Pressure for GUIDing managEment for hypertension) study, in which 286 patients had BP measured every 3 months for 12 months. Patients were categorized by 10 mm Hg strata of baseline BP, and regression to the mean measures was calculated for home and office BP. High baseline home BP readings tended to be lower on long‐term follow‐up, and low baseline readings tended to be higher. For example, patients in the group with mean baseline home systolic BP ≥ 150 mm Hg had a mean baseline systolic BP of 156 mm Hg, which fell to 143 mm Hg at 12 months; and patients in the group with mean baseline home systolic BP < 120 mm Hg had a mean baseline systolic BP of 113 mm Hg which rose to 120 mm Hg at 12 months. Similar patterns were seen in intervention and control groups, and for diastolic BP. The regression dilution ratio for home systolic BP and diastolic BP was 0.52 and 0.64, respectively, compared to 0.40 and 0.55 for office systolic BP and diastolic BP, respectively. Home BP is subject to regression to the mean to a similar degree as office BP. These findings have implications for the diagnosis and management of hypertension using home BP.     

Clinical value of multiorgan damage in hypertensive crises: A prospective follow‐up study

Hypertensive crises are associated with high rates of target organ complications and poor outcomes. A recent shift from the definition of malignant hypertension to hypertension‐multiorgan damage (MOD) contributes to the diagnosis and management of hypertensive crises. Here, we prospectively included 166 adult (≥18 years old) patients with hypertensive crises (blood pressure >180/120 mm Hg). Target organs and causes of hypertension were assessed. Patients who were diagnosed with malignant hypertensive retinopathy, the absence of malignant hypertensive retinopathy but the presence of damage to at least 3 organs, and the absence of both retinopathy and MOD were classified as the malignant hypertension (n = 48), hypertension‐MOD (n = 42), and hypertension without MOD (n = 76) groups, respectively. Patients were followed to evaluate renal and cardiovascular prognoses. At baseline, patients with malignant hypertension had worse renal function, higher level of albuminuria, and more severe microvascular damage than those with hypertension‐MOD. Both had similar proportions of malignant arteriolar nephrosclerosis (83% vs 64%), left ventricular hypertrophy (90% vs 88%), abnormal repolarization (71% vs 60%), and left ventricular dysfunction (12% vs 21%). At the twenty months of follow‐up, both the malignant hypertension and hypertension‐MOD groups had similar blood pressure control rates and proteinuria. Both groups had worse renal outcomes than the hypertension without MOD group (P = .002). Patients with hypertension‐MOD (HR = 0.67, [95% CI: 0.30‐1.46], P = .31) had similar renal event‐free survival than patients with MHT after adjustments of age, sex, blood pressure, and proteinuria control. These results suggest that in hypertensive crises, both malignant hypertension and hypertension‐MOD have impact on adverse renal outcomes.     

Reliability of morning,before‐dinner,and at‐bedtime home blood pressure measurements in patients with hypertension

The authors evaluated differences in the reliability of home blood pressure measurements taken in the morning, before dinner, and at bedtime. Forty‐eight patients with hypertension (age range, 50–89 years; mean age, 76.4 years) measured their home blood pressure using a validated automatic information/communication technology‐based device for 14 consecutive days. Those days were divided into the first seven days (1–7) and the following 8 to 14 days (days 8–14) and compared systolic blood pressure (SBP) reliability in the two periods for each measurement time point. In Bland‐Altman analyses, morning SBP showed the least standard error of measurement (3.0 mm Hg). There were fixed biases in morning and before‐dinner SBP with average limits of agreement of 3.9 and 6.4 mm Hg, respectively. For at‐bedtime SBP, a random error was detected and the minimal detectable change was 13.8 mm Hg. The percentage of near‐maximal variation of morning SBP was the smallest at 18.1%. Morning SBP therefore provided the most reliable home blood pressure value in the day.     

Elevated Diastolic,But Not Systolic,Blood Pressure Measured in the Emergency Department Predicts Future Development of Hypertension in Normotensive Individuals

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is reported in many individuals without hypertension presenting to the emergency department (ED). Whether this condition represents a transient state or is predictive for the development of future hypertension is unknown. This observational prospective study investigated patients admitted to an ED without a diagnosis of hypertension in whom BP values were ≥140/90 mm Hg. The primary outcome was development of hypertension during follow‐up. Overall, 195 patients were recruited and at the end of follow‐up (average 30.14±15.96 months), 142 patients were diagnosed with hypertension (73%). The mean age (50±12.25 vs 48.31±13.9, P=.419) and sex distribution (78 men/64 women vs 24 men/20 women, respectively; P=.148) were similar in both groups. There were significant differences in systolic and diastolic BP between those who developed hypertension on follow‐up and those who did not (177.6 mm Hg±22.6/106.1 mm Hg±16.9 vs 168.6 mm Hg±18/95.2 mm Hg±12.2; P=.011 for systolic BP, P<.001 for diastolic BP). In multivariate analysis the only significant predictive factor for the development of hypertension was diastolic hypertension recorded in the ED (P=.03). Elevated diastolic, but not systolic, BP among patients presenting to the ED is associated with future development of hypertension in previously normotensive individuals.     

Race and sex differences in asleep blood pressure: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study

Nocturnal hypertension and non‐dipping blood pressure are each associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We determined differences in nocturnal hypertension and non‐dipping systolic/diastolic blood pressure among black and white men and women who underwent 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study Year 30 Exam in 2015‐2016. Asleep and awake periods were determined from actigraphy complemented by sleep diaries. Nocturnal hypertension was defined as mean asleep systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120/70 mm Hg. Non‐dipping systolic and diastolic blood pressure, separately, were defined as a decline in awake‐to‐asleep blood pressure < 10%. Among 767 participants, the prevalence of nocturnal hypertension was 18.4% and 44.4% in white and black women, respectively, and 36.4% and 59.9% in white and black men, respectively. After multivariable adjustment and compared with white women, the prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) for nocturnal hypertension was 1.65 (1.18‐2.32) for black women, 1.63 (1.14‐2.33) for white men, and 2.01 (1.43‐2.82) for black men. The prevalence of non‐dipping systolic blood pressure was 21.5% and 41.0% in white and black women, respectively, and 20.2% and 37.9% in white and black men, respectively. Compared with white women, the multivariable‐adjusted prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) for non‐dipping systolic blood pressure was 1.66 (1.18‐2.32), 0.91 (0.58‐1.42) and 1.66 (1.15‐2.39) among black women, white men, and black men, respectively. Non‐dipping diastolic blood pressure did not differ by race‐sex groups following multivariable adjustment. In conclusion, black women and men have a high prevalence of nocturnal hypertension and non‐dipping systolic blood pressure.     

Association of Isolated Systolic,Isolated Diastolic,and Systolic‐Diastolic Masked Hypertension With Carotid Artery Intima‐Media Thickness

Masked hypertension (MH) is associated with advanced target organ damage. However, patients with MH constitute a group of individuals with heterogeneous characteristics concerning their ambulatory blood pressure (BP) status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of isolated systolic MH, isolated diastolic MH, and systolic/diastolic MH with carotid artery intima‐media thickness (CIMT). A total of 101 patients with MH underwent carotid artery ultrasonographic measurements. The patients were divided into three groups according to office and daytime BP values: isolated systolic MH, isolated diastolic MH, and systolic/diastolic MH. Patients with isolated systolic (n=36) (0.771 mm) and systolic/diastolic MH (n=37) (0.775 mm) had significantly (P<.05) higher CIMT values than those with isolated diastolic MH (n=28) (0.664 mm), even after adjustment for baseline characteristics and risk factors. Patients with isolated systolic and systolic/diastolic MH presented significantly higher CIMT values compared with patients with isolated diastolic MH.