Masked Hypertension in Low‐Income South African Adults |
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| Authors: | Lisa J. Ware PhD Kirsten L. Rennie PhD Lebo F. Gafane MSc Tarryn M. Nell B SocSc Jane E.S. Thompson PhD Johannes M. Van Rooyen PhD Rudolph Schutte PhD Aletta E. Schutte PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North‐West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa;2. Centre for Lifespan and Chronic Illness Research, University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK;3. HIV Coordinator, North‐West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa;4. MRC Research Unit for Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease, North‐West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa |
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| Abstract: | While South Africa has one of the highest hypertension rates globally, there are few data on masked hypertension (MHT) and white‐coat hypertension (WCHT). This study measured the frequency of MHT and WCHT in low‐income (<$500 US per month) South African adults, evaluating cardiovascular risk by arterial stiffness. Participants (n=101, 50% male; mean age 39.4±9.7 years) were recruited from a large North‐West Province employer. Clinic and 24‐hour blood pressure (BP) and pulse wave analysis were recorded. Clinic BP identified 18% of patients as hypertensive, while 24‐hour BP showed that 63% of patients were hypertensive. The frequency of MHT was high (33 of 81, 41%) with only one case of WCHT. In comparison to those with normal clinic and 24‐hour BP, augmentation index and pulse wave velocity were significantly higher in those with hypertensive 24‐hour BP irrespective of clinic BP, indicating that, in this group, masked and sustained hypertension carry a similar elevated cardiovascular risk. |
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