Isolated office hypertension: association with target organ damage and cardiovascular risk indices

BACKGROUND: Isolated office hypertension (IOH) has been accepted as a benign condition by some researchers, whereas others believe that it is associated with cardiovascular abnormalities and increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this present study was to evaluate the effects of IOH on target organ damage and cardiovascular risk indices. METHODS: Arterial blood pressure (BP) measured in the office and by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABMP), carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), left ventricular mass index (LVMI), cardiothoracic index (CTI), duration of QTc, 24-hour microalbuminuria, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels were evaluated. Thirty-three subjects with IOH (office BP > or = 140/90 mmHg and daytime ambulatory BP <135/85 mmHg), 17 patients with sustained hypertension (office BP > or = 140/90 mmHg and daytime ambulatory BP > or = 135/85 mmHg), and 17 normotensive control subjects were recruited in the study. The three groups were matched for age, sex and body mass index. RESULTS: CIMT was greater in patients with IOH than in normotensive subjects, and it was significantly lower than that of sustained hypertension patients. Significantly higher LVMI was determined in subjects with IOH compared to normotensive subjects. CTI, QTc, microalbuminuria, fibrinogen, CRP, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels did not differ significantly among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: IOH causes significant target organ damage and should not be regarded as a benign condition.