Nocturnal blood pressure measured by home devices: evidence and perspective for clinical application

In-office and out-of-office blood pressure measurement

Accurate blood pressure measurement is the key procedure for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension. In-office and out-of-office blood pressure measurements both have advantages and weak points, and multifaceted blood pressure information in individuals should be appropriately obtained and assessed. Validation of blood pressure measurement devices has long been an important issue, and several consortiums have emerged to try address it. Clinical guidelines should meet the demands of the region in which they are applied, and out-of-office measurements have been widely stated and recommended in the recently published guidelines worldwide. Appropriate assessment of blood pressure should be performed routinely in order to provide timely and accurate evidence regarding hypertension under any situation, including an unexpected pandemic.

Development of beat-by-beat blood pressure monitoring device and nocturnal sec-surge detection algorithm

The nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surge in seconds (sec-surge) is defined as a brief, acute transient BP elevation over several tens of seconds, triggered by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and sympathetic hyperactivity. Sec-surge imposes a significant strain on the cardiovascular system, potentially triggering cardiovascular events. Quantitative evaluation of sec-surge level could be valuable in assessing cardiovascular risks. To accurately measure the detailed sec-surge, including its shape as BP rises and falls, we developed a beat-by-beat (BbB) BP monitoring device using tonometry. In addition, we developed an automatic sec-surge detection algorithm to help identify sec-surge cases in the overnight BbB BP data. The device and algorithm successfully detected sec-surges in patients with OSA. Our results demonstrated that sec-surge was associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial stiffness independently of nocturnal BP level or variability. Sec-surge would be worth monitoring for assessing cardiovascular risks, in addition to nocturnal BP level. Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surge in seconds (sec-surge) places heavy load on the cardiovascular system and can trigger cardiovascular events. To identify sec-surges, we developed a beat-by-beat BP monitoring device and a sec-surge detection algorithm. Furthermore, sec-surge was more related to cardiovascular risks than conventional nocturnal BP parameters.

Sleep blood pressure measured using a home blood pressure monitor was independently associated with cardiovascular disease incidence: the Nagahama study

BACKGROUND

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) is associated with cardiovascular disease independently of awake BP. However, nocturnal BP measured using an ambulatory monitoring device has limited reproducibility because it is a single-day measurement. We investigated the association between sleep BP measured on multiple days using a timer-equipped home BP monitor and cardiovascular diseases in a general population.

METHODS

The study population comprised 5814 community residents. Participants were required to sleep with wrapping cuffs on their upper arm and BP was measured automatically at 0 : 00, 2 : 00, and 4 : 00. Actigraph was used to determine BP measured during sleep. Participants were also measured home morning and evening BP manually using the same device.

RESULTS

During the 7.3-year mean follow-up period, we observed 117 cases of cardiovascular diseases. The association between sleep BP (per 10 mmHg hazard ratio = 1.31, P < 0.001) and cardiovascular events remained significant (hazard ratio = 1.22, P = 0.036) even after adjusting for office BP and confounding factors, such as sleep-disordered breathing. Individuals with sleep-only hypertension (n = 1047; hazard ratio = 2.23, P = 0.005) had a significant cardiovascular risk. Daytime-only hypertension (n = 264; hazard ratio = 3.57, P = 0.001) and combined sleep and daytime hypertension (n = 1216; hazard ratio = 3.69, P < 0.001) was associated with cardiovascular events to the same extent. Sleep BP dipping was not identified as a significant determinant of cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSION

Sleep BP measured using a home BP monitor was independently associated with the incidence of cardiovascular disease in a general population.

Ability of a 24-h ambulatory cuffless blood pressure monitoring device to track blood pressure changes in clinical practice

OBJECTIVE

There is an increasing number of cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement (BPM) devices. Despite promising results when comparing single measurements, the ability of these devices to track changes in BP levels over 24 h related to an initial calibration BP (CalibBP) is unknown. Our aim was to analyse this ability in a cuffless device using pulse transit time.

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled 166 participants for simultaneously performed cuffless (Somnotouch-NIBP) and cuff-based (Spacelabs 90217A/IEM Mobil-O-graph) 24 h BPM. As CalibBP for the cuffless device, first cuff-based BP was used. As surrogate for changes in BP levels after the CalibBP, we used the difference between the CalibBP and mean 24 h, awake and asleep BP measured by the two devices. In addition, we analysed the relationship between the difference of the CalibBP and the cuff-based BPM versus the difference between the cuff-based and the cuffless BPM devices.

RESULTS

Mean(SD) difference between the CalibBP and mean 24hBP by the cuff-based or cuffless BP device were 7.4 (13.2) versus 1.8 (8.3) mmHg for systolic ( P  < 0.0001) and 6.6 (6.8) versus 1.6 (5.8) mmHg for diastolic ( P  < 0.0001). A near linear relationship was seen among the difference between the CalibBP and the cuff-based BPM values and the difference between the cuff-based and cuffless BPM device.

CONCLUSION

Our data indicate a lower ability of the cuffless BPM device to track changes of BP levels after CalibBP. In addition, cuffless device accuracy was associated with the changes in BP levels after the initial CalibBP - the larger the BP level change, the larger the difference between the devices.

REGISTRATION

https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT03054688; NCT03975582.

Association between nocturnal blood pressure phenotype and adverse cardiovascular prognosis in patients with coronary heart disease and hypertension

Nocturnal blood pressure and nighttime dipping patterns are associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events. However, there is few research on whether riser pattern is associated with the poor prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and hypertension independent of nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP). This prospective and observational clinical study included 568 hospitalized patients with CHD and hypertension. All patients underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring during their hospitalization. Multivariate adjusted Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to examine the associations of nocturnal blood pressure and dipping status with primary endpoint events. Additionally, Harrell's C-statistics were employed to compare the discriminative ability of each model. During the 1-year follow-up period, 64 (11.3%) primary endpoint events were recorded, including 55 (9.7%) atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) events. After adjusting for demographic and clinical risk variables, nighttime SBP was significantly related to the risk of incident primary endpoint events [per 20 mm Hg increase: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.775, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.256-2.507]. The riser pattern group exhibited a significantly higher risk for primary endpoint events compared to the dipper pattern group, even after adjusting for office SBP (HR: 2.687, 95% CI: 1.015-7.110, p = .047). Furthermore, the addition of nighttime SBP or dipping status to the base model yielded statistically significant increments in C-statistic values (p = .036 and p = .007). However, adding both nighttime SBP and dipping status did not significantly enhance the model's performance in predicting the risk of primary endpoint events and ASCVD events according to the C-index (p = .053 and p = .054), which meant that the riser pattern group did not exhibit a significantly higher risk for primary endpoint events compared to the dipper pattern group after adjusting for nighttime SBP. In conclusion, nocturnal SBP and riser pattern demonstrated an association with adverse prognosis in patients with CHD and hypertension. Notably, nocturnal SBP proved to be a more reliable predictor than dipping status.

Clinical trial design for assessing hypertension medications: are critical circadian chronopharmacological principles being taking into account?

INTRODUCTION

Clinical hypertension trials typically rely on homeostatic principles, including single time-of-day office blood pressure (BP) measurements (OBPM), rather than circadian chronopharmacological principles, including ambulatory monitoring (ABPM) done around-the-clock to derive the asleep systolic BP (SBP) mean and sleep-time relative SBP decline - jointly the strongest prognosticators of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and true definition of hypertension - to qualify participants and assess outcomes.

AREAS COVERED

Eight chronopharmacological elements are indispensable for design and conduct of hypertension medication trials, mainly those on ingestion-time differences in effects, and also a means of rating quality of investigations. Accordingly, we highlight the findings and shortcomings of: (i) 155 such ingestion-time trials, 83.9% finding at-bedtime/evening treatment more beneficial than conventional upon-awakening/morning treatment; (ii) HOPE and ONTARGET CVD outcomes investigations assessing in the former add-on ramipril at-bedtime and in the latter telmisartan, ramipril, or both in combination in the morning; and (iii) pragmatic TIME CVD outcomes trial.

EXPERT OPINION

Failure to incorporate chronopharmacological principals - including ABPM to derive asleep SBP and SBP dipping to qualify subjects as hypertensive and assess CVD risk - results in deficient study design, dubious findings, and unnecessary medical controversy at the expense of advances in patient care.

Requirements for design and function of blood pressure measuring devices used for the management of hypertension: Consensus Statement by the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability and STRIDE BP

OBJECTIVE

To develop scientific consensus recommendations for the optimal design and functions of different types of blood pressure (BP) measuring devices used in clinical practice for the detection, management, and long-term follow-up of hypertension.

METHODS

A scientific consensus meeting was performed by the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Working Group on BP Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability and STRIDE BP (Science and Technology for Regional Innovation and Development in Europe) during the 2022 Scientific Meeting of the ESH in Athens, Greece. Manufacturers were also invited to provide their feedback on BP device design and development. Thirty-one international experts in clinical hypertension and BP monitoring contributed to the development of consensus recommendations on the optimal design of BP devices.

STATEMENT

International consensus was reached on the requirements for the design and features of five types of BP monitors, including office (or clinic) BP monitors, ambulatory BP monitors, home BP monitors, home BP telemonitors, and kiosk BP monitors for public spaces. For each device type "essential" requirements (must have), and "optional" ones (may have) are presented, as well as additional comments on the optimal device design and features.

CONCLUSIONS

These consensus recommendations aim at providing manufacturers of BP devices with the requirements that are considered mandatory, or optional, by clinical experts involved in the detection and management of hypertension. They are also directed to administrative healthcare personnel involved in the provision and purchase of BP devices so that they can recommend the most appropriate ones.

Digital hypertension towards to the anticipation medicine

"Digital Hypertension" is a new research field proposed by the Japanese Society of Hypertension that integrates digital technology into hypertension management and proactively promotes research activities. This novel approach includes the development of new technologies for better BP management, such as sensors for detecting environmental factors that affect BP, information processing, and machine learning. To facilitate "Digital Hypertension," a more sophisticated BP monitoring system capable of measuring an individual's BP more frequently in various situations would be required. With the use of these technologies, hypertension management could shift from the current "dots" management based on office BP readings during clinic visits to a "line" management system based on seamless home BP or individual BP data taken by a wearable BP monitoring device. DTx is the innovation to change hypertension management from "dots" to "line", completely achieved by wearable BP.

Clinical and life style factors related to the nighttime blood pressure, nighttime dipping and their phenotypes in Korean hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND

Non-dipping or reverse dipping patterns are known to be associated with adverse cardiovascular prognosis among the general population and clinical cohort. Few large sized studies have explored factors including sleep duration and sleep quality related to nighttime blood pressure (BP) and nocturnal dipping patterns.

METHODS

Among 5,360 patients enrolled  in Korean multicenter nationwide prospective Registry of ambulatory BP monitoring (KORABP), 981 subjects with complete data on sleep duration, sleep quality assessed using a 4-point Likert scale, and clinical variables were included in the analysis. Phenotypes of nighttime BP pattern were categorized as extreme dipper, dipper, non-dipper, and reverse dipper. Hypertension was defined as a 24-h ambulatory BPs were 130/80 mmHg or higher.

RESULTS

Among 981 subjects, 221 were normotensive, 359 were untreated hypertensive, and 401 were treated hypertensive. Age of the participants were 53.87 ± 14.02 years and 47.1% were female. In overall patients, sleep duration was 431.99 ± 107.61 min, and one to four points of sleep quality were observed in 15.5%, 30.0%, 30.4%, and 24.2%, respectively. Of the 760 hypertensive patients, extreme dipper, dipper, non-dipper, and reverse dipper were observed in 58 (7.63%), 277 (36.45%), 325 (42.76%), and 100 (13.16%), respectively. In multiple linear regression analysis, sleep duration (β = 0.0105, p < 0.001) and sleep quality (β = -0.8093, p < 0.001) were associated with nighttime systolic BP and sleep quality was associated with extent of nighttime systolic BP dipping (β = 0.7622, p < 0.001) in hypertensive patients. In addition, sleep quality showed positive association with dipper pattern (odds ratio [OR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.30) and showed negative association with reverse dipper pattern (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.62-0.86) in multiple logistic regression analyses.

CONCLUSION

When adjusted covariates, less sleep duration and poor sleep quality were positively associated with nighttime systolic BP. Additionally, sleep quality was the independent associated factor for dipper and reverse dipper phenotypes. The study also found that male sex, low estimated glomerular filtration rate, high ambulatory BP, low office BP, and poor sleep quality were associated with blunted nighttime SBP dipping.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension and Masked Nocturnal Hypertension in a Tertiary Hospital in the City of Buenos Aires

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) and masked nocturnal hypertension (MNH) increase cardiovascular risk. Their prevalence and characteristics are not clearly established and seem to differ among populations. We aimed to determine the prevalence and associated characteristics of INH and MNH in a tertiary hospital in the city of Buenos Aires. We included 958 hypertensive patients ≥ 18 years who underwent an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) between October and November 2022, as prescribed by their treating physician to diagnose or to assess hypertension control. INH was defined as nighttime BP ≥ 120 mmHg systolic or ≥70 diastolic in the presence of normal daytime BP (<135/85 mmHg regardless of office BP; MNH was defined as the presence of INH with office BP < 140/90 mmHg). Variables associated with INH and MNH were analyzed. The prevalences of INH and MNH were 15.7% (95% CI 13.5-18.2%) and 9.7 (95% CI 7.9-11.8%), respectively. Age, male sex, and ambulatory heart rate were positively associated with INH, whereas office BP, total cholesterol, and smoking habits showed a negative association. In turn, diabetes and nighttime heart rate were positively associated with MNH. In conclusion, INH and MNH are frequent entities, and determination of clinical characteristics such as those detected in this study is critical since this might contribute to a more appropriate use of resources.

Nocturnal blood pressure surge in seconds is associated with arterial stiffness independently of conventional nocturnal blood pressure variability in suspected obstructive sleep apnea patients

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surge in seconds (sec-surge), which is characterized as acute transient BP elevation over several tens of seconds is induced by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and OSA-related sympathetic hyperactivity. The authors assessed the relationship between sec-surge and arterial stiffness in 34 nocturnal hypertensive patients with suspected OSA (mean age 63.9 ± 12.6 years, 32.4% female). During the night, they had beat-by-beat (BbB) BP and cuff-oscillometric BP measurements, and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was assessed as an arterial stiffness index. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the upward duration (UD) of sec-surge was significantly associated with baPWV independently of nocturnal oscillometric systolic BP variability (β = .365, p = .046). This study suggests that the UD of sec-surge, which can only be measured using a BbB BP monitoring device, may be worth monitoring in addition to nocturnal BP level.

Controversies in Hypertension III: Dipping, Nocturnal Hypertension, and the Morning Surge

A comprehensive approach to hypertension requires out-of-office determinations by home and/or ambulatory monitoring. The 4 phenotypes comparing office and out-of-office pressures in treated and untreated patients include normotension, hypertension, white-coat phenomena, and masked phenomena. Components of out-of-office pressure may be equally as important as mean values. Nighttime pressures are normally 10 - 20% lower than daytime (normal "dipping"). Abnormalities include dipping more than 20% (extreme dippers), less than 10 % (non-dippers), or rising above daytime (risers) and have been associated with elevated cardiovascular risk. Nighttime pressure may be elevated (nocturnal hypertension) in isolation or together with daytime hypertension. Isolated nocturnal hypertension theoretically changes white-coat hypertension to true hypertension and normotension to masked hypertension. Pressure normally peaks in the morning hours ("morning surge") when cardiovascular events are most common. Morning hypertension may result from residual nocturnal hypertension or an exaggerated surge and has been associated with enhanced cardiovascular risk, especially in Asian populations. Randomized trials are needed to determine whether altering therapy based solely on either abnormal dipping, isolated nocturnal hypertension, and/or an abnormal surge is justified.

Status of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and home blood pressure monitoring for the diagnosis and management of hypertension in the US: an up-to-date review

The diagnosis and management of hypertension has been based on the measurement of blood pressure (BP) in the office setting. However, data have demonstrated that BP may substantially differ when measured in the office than when measured outside the office setting. Higher out-of-office BP is associated with increased cardiovascular risk independent of office BP. Ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM) are validated approaches for out-of-office BP measurement. In the 2015 and 2021 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) reports on screening for hypertension, ABPM was recommended as the reference standard for out-of-office BP monitoring and for confirming an initial diagnosis of hypertension. This recommendation was based on data from more published studies of ABPM vs. HBPM on the predictive value of out-of-office BP independent of office BP. Therefore, HBPM was recommended as an alternative approach when ABPM was not available or well tolerated. The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) BP guideline recommended ABPM as the preferred initial approach for detecting white-coat hypertension and masked hypertension among adults not taking antihypertensive medication. In contrast, HBPM was recommended as the preferred initial approach for detecting the white-coat effect and masked uncontrolled hypertension among adults taking antihypertensive medication. The current review provides an overview of ABPM and HBPM in the US, including best practices, BP thresholds that should be used for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension, barriers to widespread use of such monitoring, US guideline recommendations for ABPM and HBPM, and data supporting HBPM over ABPM.

The Microsoft Research Aurora Project: Important Findings on Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement

Conventional blood pressure (BP) measurement devices based on an inflatable cuff only provide a narrow view of the continuous BP profile. Cuffless BP measuring technologies could permit numerous BP readings throughout daily life and thereby considerably improve the assessment and management of hypertension. Several wearable cuffless BP devices based on pulse wave analysis (applied to a photoplethysmography or tonometry waveform) with or without use of pulse arrival time are now available on the market. The key question is: Can these devices provide accurate measurement of BP? Microsoft Research recently published a complex article describing perhaps the most important and highest resource project to date (Aurora Project) on assessing the accuracy of several pulse wave analysis and pulse wave analysis-pulse arrival time devices. The overall results from 1125 participants were clear-cut negative. The present article motivates and describes emerging cuffless BP devices and then summarizes the Aurora Project. The study methodology and findings are next discussed in the context of regulatory-cleared devices, physiology, and related studies, and the study strengths and limitations are pinpointed thereafter. Finally, the implications of the Aurora Project are briefly stated and recommendations for future work are offered to finally realize the considerable potential of cuffless BP measurement in health care.

Concept, study design, and baseline blood pressure control status of the nationwide prospective HI-JAMP study using multisensor ABPM

The Home-Activity Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-based Japan Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Prospective (HI-JAMP) study is a nationwide general practitioner-based cohort of medicated hypertensive patients that began in 2017. The primary objective of this study is to clarify which blood pressure (BP) measure is the best predictor of cardiovascular disease: office, home, or ambulatory BP. To this end, we used a newly developed ICT-based multisensor ambulatory BP monitoring (IMS-ABPM) device (TM-2441; A&D Company), which can also be used for home BP monitoring and is equipped with a high-sensitivity actigraph, a thermometer, and a barometer. This is the first study to evaluate three hemodynamic properties under resting home and active ambulatory conditions using the same device: (1) BP variability; (2) trigger-specific BP sensitivity to physical activity, temperature, and atmospheric pressure; and (3) central hemodynamics. A total of 2754 patients were enrolled, and 2731 patients with the required number of ambulatory BP readings (at least 6 daytime and 3 nighttime readings) were included in the final analysis. The overall patient group showed worse control of morning and nighttime BPs compared to office and daytime BPs, and the control rate was also poor among patients with a higher number of antihypertensive drugs. In conclusion, the baseline data of the HI-JAMP study demonstrated that morning home and nighttime BP remain difficult to control even among patients taking two or more hypertensive agents. By simultaneously considering office, home, and ambulatory BPs, the HI-JAMP study will contribute to the development of hypertension management strategies and new BP indices.

Role of home blood pressure monitoring in resistant hypertension

The definition of resistant hypertension (RHT) has been updated to include failure to achieve target blood pressure (BP) despite treatment with ≥3 antihypertensive drugs, including diuretics, renin-angiotensin system blockers, and calcium channel blockers, prescribed at the maximum or maximally tolerated doses, or as success in achieving the target blood pressure but requiring ≥4 drugs. RHT is a major clinical problem, as it is associated with higher mortality and morbidity than non-RHT. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately identify RHT patients to effectively manage their disease. Out-of-clinic BP measurement, including home BP monitoring and ambulatory BP monitoring is gaining prominence for the diagnosis and management of RHT. Home BP monitoring is advantageous as it is feasibly repetitive, inexpensive, widely available, and because of its reproducibility over long periods. In addition, home BP monitoring has crucial advantage of allowing safe titration for the maximum or maximally tolerable dose, and for self-monitoring, thereby improving clinical inertia and nonadherence, and allowing true RHT to be more accurately identified.

Home blood pressure monitoring: a position statement from the Korean Society of Hypertension Home Blood Pressure Forum

Home blood pressure measurement (HBPM) has the advantage of measuring blood pressure (BP) multiple times over a long period. HBPM effectively diagnoses stress-induced transient BP elevations (i.e., white coat hypertension), insufficient BP control throughout the day (i.e., masked hypertension), and even BP variability. In most cases, HBPM may increase self-awareness of BP, increasing the compliance of treatment. Cumulative evidence has reported better improved predictive values of HBPM in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality than office BP monitoring. In this position paper, the Korean Society of Hypertension Home Blood Pressure Forum provides comprehensive information and clinical importance on HBPM.

Controversies in Hypertension I: The Optimal Assessment of Blood Pressure Load and Implications for Treatment

The most important factor in treating hypertension is assessing an individual patient's true blood pressure load, the cornerstone being research-grade office determination. Office blood pressure should be supplemented with out-of-office measurement, including home and ambulatory monitoring (if available), which we consider complementary and not interchangeable. Controversy remains for initiation of treatment of white coat hypertension, where cardiovascular risk lies between normotension and sustained hypertension; antihypertensive therapy should be considered unless low cardiovascular risk, wherein pressures should be followed for progression to sustained hypertension. Available data do not support intensification of therapy for the white coat effect due to the similar cardiovascular risk to controlled hypertension. Given the higher cardiovascular risk of the masked effect, initiation of therapy for masked hypertension and intensification for masked uncontrolled hypertension are indicated, acknowledging the dearth of supporting data. Optimally, randomized controlled trials are needed to determine the benefit of treating the 4 incongruous phenotypes between office and out-of-office measurements, that is, those with white coat or masked effects. We make no recommendations regarding chronotherapy pending results of ongoing trials.

Home blood pressure self-measurement: “Current situation and new perspectives”

The method typically used to diagnose and monitor hypertensive patients has been to measure blood pressure in the physician's surgery; however, it is a well-known fact that this approach poses certain drawbacks, such as observer bias, failure to detect an alert reaction in the clinic, etc., difficulties that affect its accuracy as a diagnostic method. In recent years, the varying international scientific societies have persistently recommended the use of blood pressure measurements outside the clinic (at home or in the outpatient setting), using validated automatic devices. Data from some studies suggest that if we rely solely on in-office measurements, approximately 15-20% of the time we may be wrong when making decisions, both in terms of diagnosis and patient follow-up. Home blood pressure measurements are a simple and very affordable method that has a similar reproducibility and prognostic value as ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, the availability of which is currently very limited. Moreover, ambulatory self-measurements have the significant benefit of being able to improve control of hypertensive individuals. Healthcare professionals and patients should be aware of the methodology of home blood pressure measurement, its usefulness and limitations.

Bedtime dosing of antihypertensive medications: systematic review and consensus statement: International Society of Hypertension position paper endorsed by World Hypertension League and European Society of Hypertension

Antihypertensive drug therapy is one of the most efficient medical interventions for preventing disability and death globally. Most of the evidence supporting its benefits has been derived from outcome trials with morning dosing of medications. Accumulating evidence suggests an adverse prognosis associated with night-time hypertension, nondipping blood pressure (BP) profile and morning BP surge, with increased incidence of cardiovascular events during the first few morning hours. These observations provide justification for complete 24-h BP control as being the primary goal of antihypertensive treatment. Bedtime administration of antihypertensive drugs has also been proposed as a potentially more effective treatment strategy than morning administration. This Position Paper by the International Society of Hypertension reviewed the published evidence on the clinical relevance of the diurnal variation in BP and the timing of antihypertensive drug treatment, aiming to provide consensus recommendations for clinical practice. Eight published outcome hypertension studies involved bedtime dosing of antihypertensive drugs, and all had major methodological and/or other flaws and a high risk of bias in testing the impact of bedtime compared to morning treatment. Three ongoing, well designed, prospective, randomized controlled outcome trials are expected to provide high-quality data on the efficacy and safety of evening or bedtime versus morning drug dosing. Until that information is available, preferred use of bedtime drug dosing of antihypertensive drugs should not be routinely recommended in clinical practice. Complete 24-h control of BP should be targeted using readily available, long-acting antihypertensive medications as monotherapy or combinations administered in a single morning dose.

Continuous cuffless monitoring of arterial blood pressure via graphene bioimpedance tattoos

Continuous monitoring of arterial blood pressure (BP) in non-clinical (ambulatory) settings is essential for understanding numerous health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases. Besides their importance in medical diagnosis, ambulatory BP monitoring platforms can advance disease correlation with individual behaviour, daily habits and lifestyle, potentially enabling analysis of root causes, prognosis and disease prevention. Although conventional ambulatory BP devices exist, they are uncomfortable, bulky and intrusive. Here we introduce a wearable continuous BP monitoring platform that is based on electrical bioimpedance and leverages atomically thin, self-adhesive, lightweight and unobtrusive graphene electronic tattoos as human bioelectronic interfaces. The graphene electronic tattoos are used to monitor arterial BP for >300 min, a period tenfold longer than reported in previous studies. The BP is recorded continuously and non-invasively, with an accuracy of 0.2 ± 4.5 mm Hg for diastolic pressures and 0.2 ± 5.8 mm Hg for systolic pressures, a performance equivalent to Grade A classification.

Cuffless blood pressure measuring devices: review and statement by the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability

BACKGROUND

Many cuffless blood pressure (BP) measuring devices are currently on the market claiming that they provide accurate BP measurements. These technologies have considerable potential to improve the awareness, treatment, and management of hypertension. However, recent guidelines by the European Society of Hypertension do not recommend cuffless devices for the diagnosis and management of hypertension.

OBJECTIVE

This statement by the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on BP Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability presents the types of cuffless BP technologies, issues in their validation, and recommendations for clinical practice.

STATEMENTS

Cuffless BP monitors constitute a wide and heterogeneous group of novel technologies and devices with different intended uses. Cuffless BP devices have specific accuracy issues, which render the established validation protocols for cuff BP devices inadequate for their validation. In 2014, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers published a standard for the validation of cuffless BP devices, and the International Organization for Standardization is currently developing another standard. The validation of cuffless devices should address issues related to the need of individual cuff calibration, the stability of measurements post calibration, the ability to track BP changes, and the implementation of machine learning technology. Clinical field investigations may also be considered and issues regarding the clinical implementation of cuffless BP readings should be investigated.

CONCLUSION

Cuffless BP devices have considerable potential for changing the diagnosis and management of hypertension. However, fundamental questions regarding their accuracy, performance, and implementation need to be carefully addressed before they can be recommended for clinical use.

Anxiety is associated with higher blood pressure rise induced by cuff inflation

SUBJECTS

To assess whether anxiety is associated with a higher rise of blood pressure induced by cuff inflation.

METHODS

At first, intro-aortic blood pressure was continuously record before cuff inflation as baseline value in 234 patients underwent coronary angiography, then the cuff was inflated to 200 mmHg and the intro-aortic blood pressure was record again as cuff inflation blood pressure. According to anxiety score, the patients were divided into anxiety group, subanxiety group, and nonanxiety group. The difference between the baseline blood pressure and the cuff inflation blood pressure was calculated as cuff inflation-induced blood pressure elevation. When the difference ≥10 mmHg, cuff inflation-induced blood pressure elevation was diagnosed.

RESULTS

The cuff inflation systolic blood pressure (134.9 ± 22.4 versus 131.6 ± 22.3  mmHg, P < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (80.5 ± 11.9 versus 78.4 ± 11.6 mmHg, P < 0.01) were significantly higher than the baseline values, thus the mean cuff inflation-induced blood pressure elevation on systolic blood pressure was 3.3 ± 4.7 mmHg and that on diastolic blood pressure was 2.1 ± 4.9 mmHg. The anxiety subgroup had significantly higher percentage increase-systolic blood pressure and percentage increase-diastolic blood pressure levels (4.5 ± 3.1% and 5.6 ± 6.3%) than the nonanxiety subgroup (1.9 ± 3.3% and 2.0 ± 6.5%), meanwhile these values in the subanxiety subgroup were higher (3.2 ± 4.1% and 3.4 ± 5.7%) than the nonanxiety subgroup.

CONCLUSION

Cuff inflation can induce a transient rise of intro-aortic blood pressure. Anxiety is associated with higher cuff inflation-induced blood pressure elevation.

Virtual management of hypertension: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic-International Society of Hypertension position paper endorsed by World Hypertension League and European Society of Hypertension

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic caused an unprecedented shift from in person care to delivering healthcare remotely. To limit infectious spread, patients and providers rapidly adopted distant evaluation with online or telephone-based diagnosis and management of hypertension. It is likely that virtual care of chronic diseases including hypertension will continue in some form into the future. The purpose of the International Society of Hypertension's (ISH) position paper is to provide practical guidance on the virtual management of hypertension to improve its diagnosis and blood pressure control based on the currently available evidence and international experts' opinion for nonpregnant adults. Virtual care represents the provision of healthcare services at a distance with communication conducted between healthcare providers, healthcare users and their circle of care. This statement provides consensus guidance on: selecting blood pressure monitoring devices, accurate home blood pressure assessments, delivering patient education virtually, health behavior modification, medication adjustment and long-term virtual monitoring. We further provide recommendations on modalities for the virtual assessment and management of hypertension across the spectrum of resource availability and patient ability.

Cuffless Blood Pressure Measurement

Cuffless blood pressure (BP) measurement has become a popular field due to clinical need and technological opportunity. However, no method has been broadly accepted hitherto. The objective of this review is to accelerate progress in the development and application of cuffless BP measurement methods. We begin by describing the principles of conventional BP measurement, outstanding hypertension/hypotension problems that could be addressed with cuffless methods, and recent technological advances, including smartphone proliferation and wearable sensing, that are driving the field. We then present all major cuffless methods under investigation, including their current evidence. Our presentation includes calibrated methods (i.e., pulse transit time, pulse wave analysis, and facial video processing) and uncalibrated methods (i.e., cuffless oscillometry, ultrasound, and volume control). The calibrated methods can offer convenience advantages, whereas the uncalibrated methods do not require periodic cuff device usage or demographic inputs. We conclude by summarizing the field and highlighting potentially useful future research directions. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, Volume 24 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Effect of a fixed-dose combination of Telmisartan/S-amlodipine on circadian blood pressure compared with Telmisartan monotherapy: TENUVA-BP study

Background

This study evaluated the circadian efficacy of a telmisartan 40 mg/S-amlodipine 2.5 mg fixed-dose combination (Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5) compared to telmisartan 80 mg (Telmisartan80) in patients with essential hypertension who did not respond to 2–4 weeks’ treatment with telmisartan 40 mg.

Methods

Eligible patients with essential hypertension (clinic mean sitting systolic blood pressure [MSSBP] ≥140 mmHg, or ≥ 130 mmHg in those with diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease) were randomly assigned to Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 or Telmisartan80 for 8 weeks. All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) at baseline and 8 weeks later. Primary endpoints were changes in mean 24-h SBP and DBP on 24-h ABPM from baseline after 8 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in daytime, nighttime, and morning SBP and DBP, and clinic MSSBP and MSDBP.

Results

A total of 316 Korean patients were enrolled, 217 patients were randomized to treatment, and 192 patients completed the study. Compared to Telmisartan80, Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 showed significantly better reductions in 24-h mean SBP and DBP after 8 weeks. Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 also significantly reduced secondary endpoints compared to Telmisartan80. Among 15 adverse events (7 [Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5] and 8 [Telmisartan80]), there were five adverse drug reactions; 14 events were mild, and none were identified with significant between-group differences.

Conclusions

Telmisartan40/S-Amlodipine2.5 was tolerable and more effective than Telmisartan80 in lowering 24-h mean ambulatory BP in patients with essential hypertension not responding adequately to Telmisartan40. Our findings support the fact that the combination of S-amlodipine with telmisartan is more appropriate than increasing the dose of telmisartan monotherapy.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02231788. Registered 4 September 2014.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40885-021-00184-0.

Seven-action approaches for the management of hypertension in Asia - The HOPE Asia network

Asia is a large continent and there is significant diversity between countries and regions. Over the last 30 years, absolute blood pressure (BP) levels in Asia have increased to a greater extent than those in other regions. In diverse Asia‐Pacific populations, for choosing an Asia‐specific approach to hypertension management is important to prevent target organ damage and cardiovascular diseases. In this consensus document of HOPE Asia Network, we introduce seven action approaches for management of hypertension in Asia.

Nocturnal blood pressure surge in seconds is a new determinant of left ventricular mass index

Nocturnal blood pressure (BP) surge in seconds (sec‐surge), which is characterized as acute transient BP elevation over several tens of seconds, could be a predictor of target organ damage. However, it is not clear that the severity of sec‐surge is different between sec‐surges induced by sleep apnea (SA) (apnea/hypopnea detected by polysomnography (PSG) or oxygen desaturation) and those induced by non‐SA factors (rapid eye movement, micro arousal, etc.), and sec‐surge variables associate with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) independently of conventional BP variables. The authors assessed these points with 41 patients (mean age 63.2±12.6 years, 29% female) who underwent full PSG, beat‐by‐beat (BbB) BP, and cuff‐oscillometric BP measurement during the night. All patients were included for the analysis comparing sec‐surge severity between inducing factors (SA and non‐SA factors). There were no significant differences in the number of sec‐surges/night between SA‐related sec‐surges and non‐SA‐related sec‐surges (19.5±26.0 vs. 16.4±29.8 events/night). There were also no significant differences in the peak of sec‐surges, defined as the maximum systolic BPs (SBPs) in each sec‐surge, between SA‐related sec‐surges and non‐SA‐related sec‐surges (148.2±18.5 vs. 149.3±19.2 mm Hg). Furthermore, as a result of multiple regression analysis (n = 18), the peak of sec‐surge was significantly and strongly associated with the left ventricular mass index (standardized β = 0.62, p = .02), compared with the mean nocturnal SBPs measured by oscillometric method (β = −0.04, p = .87). This study suggests that peak of sec‐surge could be a better predictor of LVH compared to parameters derived from regular nocturnal oscillometric SBP.

Sleep and cardiovascular outcomes in relation to nocturnal hypertension: the J-HOP Nocturnal Blood Pressure Study

There is a lack of data on how nighttime blood pressure (BP) might modify the relationship between sleep duration and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Self-reported sleep duration data were available for 2253/2562 patients from the J-HOP Nocturnal BP study; of these, 2236 had complete follow-up data (mean age 63.0 years, 83% using antihypertensive drugs). CVD outcomes included stroke, coronary artery disease (CAD), and atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD [stroke + CAD]). Associations between sleep duration and nighttime home BP (measured using a validated, automatic, oscillometric device) were determined. During a mean follow-up of 7.1 ± 3.8 years, there were 133 ASCVD events (52 strokes and 81 CAD events). Short sleep duration (<6 versus ≥6 and <9 h/night) was significantly associated with the risk of ASCVD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07-3.22), especially stroke (HR 2.47, 95% CI 1.08-5.63). When nighttime systolic BP was <120 mmHg, those with a sleep duration <6 versus ≥6 and <9 h/night had a significantly higher risk of ASCVD and CAD events (HR [95% CI] 3.46 [1.52-7.92] and 3.24 [1.21-8.69], respectively). Even patients with "optimal" sleep duration (≥6 and <9 h/night) were at significantly higher risk of stroke when nighttime systolic BP was uncontrolled (HR [95% CI] 2.76 [1.26-6.04]). Adding sleep duration and nighttime BP to a base model with standard CVD risk factors significantly improved model performance for stroke (C-statistic 0.795, 95% CI 0.737-0.856; p = 0.038). These findings highlight the importance of both optimal sleep duration and control of nocturnal hypertension for reducing the risk of CVD, especially stroke. Clinical Trial registration: URL: http://www.umin.ac.jp/icdr/index.html . Unique identifier: UMIN000000894.

Relationship between blood pressure repeatedly measured by a wrist-cuff oscillometric wearable blood pressure monitoring device and left ventricular mass index in working hypertensive patients

This study sought to evaluate the relationship between blood pressure (BP) taken by a new wrist-cuff oscillometric wearable BP monitoring device and left ventricular mass index measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI-LVMI) in 50 hypertensive patients (mean age 60.5 ± 8.9 years, 92.0% men, 96% treated for hypertension) with regular employment. Participants were asked to self-measure their wearable BPs twice in the morning and evening under a guideline-recommended standardized home BP measurement, and once each at five predetermined times and any additional time points under an ambulatory condition for a maximum of 7 days. In total, 2105 wearable BP measurements (home BP: 747 [morning: 409, evening: 338], ambulatory condition: 1358 [worksite: 942]) were collected over 5.5 ± 1.2 days. The average of all wearable systolic BP (SBP) readings (129.8 ± 11.0 mmHg) was weakly correlated with cMRI-LVMI (r = 0.265, p = 0.063). Morning home wearable SBP average (128.5 ± 13.8 mmHg) was significantly correlated with cMRI-LVMI (r = 0.378, p = 0.013), but ambulatory wearable SBP average (132.5 ± 12.7 mmHg) was not (r = 0.215, p = 0.135). The averages of the highest three values of all wearable SBPs (153.3 ± 13.9 mmHg) and ambulatory wearable SBPs (152.9 ± 13.9 mmHg) were 16 mmHg higher than that of the morning home wearable SBPs (137.0 ± 15.9 mmHg). Those peak values were significantly correlated with cMRI-LVMI (r = 0.320, p = 0.023; r = 0.310, p = 0.029; r = 0.451, p = 0.002, respectively). In conclusion, an increased number of wearable BP measurements, which could detect individual peak BP, might add to the clinical value of these measurements as a complement to the guideline-recommended home BP measurements, but further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Home blood pressure monitoring: methodology, clinical relevance and practical application: a 2021 position paper by the Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability of the European Society of Hypertension

The present paper provides an update of previous recommendations on Home Blood Pressure Monitoring from the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) Working Group on Blood Pressure Monitoring and Cardiovascular Variability sequentially published in years 2000, 2008 and 2010. This update has taken into account new evidence in this field, including a recent statement by the American Heart association, as well as technological developments, which have occurred over the past 20 years. The present document has been developed by the same ESH Working Group with inputs from an international team of experts, and has been endorsed by the ESH.

Reproducibility of nighttime home blood pressure measured by a wrist-type nocturnal home blood pressure monitoring device

The authors investigated the reproducibility of nighttime home blood pressure (BP) measured by a wrist-type BP monitoring device. Forty-six hypertensive patients (mean 69.0±11.6 years, 56.5% male) self-measured their nighttime BP hourly using simultaneously worn wrist-type and upper arm-type nocturnal home BP monitoring devices at home on two consecutive nights. Using the average 7.4±1.3 measurements on the first night and the average 7.0 ± 1.8 measurements on the second night, the authors assessed the reliability and the reproducibility of nighttime BP measured on the two nights. The difference between nights in systolic BP (SBP) measured by the wrist-device was not significant (1.6±7.0 mmHg, p = .124), while the difference in diastolic BP (DBP) was marginally significant (1.4±4.9 mmHg, p = .050). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for agreement between nights were high both in SBP and DBP average (SBP: 0.835, DBP: 0.804). Averaging only three points of SBP resulted in lower ICC values, but still indicated good correlations (ICC > 0.6). On the other hand, the correlations of the standard deviation and average real variability of SBP between nights were low, with ICCs of 0.220 and 0.436, respectively. In conclusion, the average SBP values measured on the first night were reliable even when averaging only three readings. The reproducibility of nighttime BP variability seemed inferior to that of BP average; it might be better to measure nighttime BP over multiple nights to assess BP variability. However, this hypothesis needs verification in other study population. In addition, our study population had well-controlled BP, which limits the generalizability of this findings to all hypertensive patients.

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring: Current Status and New Developments

Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is a reliable, convenient, and less costly alternative to ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. Recognition and use of HBPM have dramatically increased over the last 20 years and current guidelines make strong recommendations for the use of both HBPM and ABPM in patients with hypertension. The accuracy and reliability of home blood pressure (BP) measurements require use of a validated device and standardized procedures, and good patient information and training. Key HBPM parameters include morning BP, evening BP, and the morning-evening difference. In addition, newer semi-automatic HBPM devices can also measure nighttime BP at fixed intervals during sleep. Advances in technology mean that HBPM devices could provide additional relevant data (e.g., environmental conditions) or determine BP in response to a specific trigger (e.g., hypoxia, increased heart rate). The value of HBPM is highlighted by a growing body of evidence showing that home BP is an important predictor of target organ damage, and cardiovascular disease (CVD)- and stroke-related morbidity and mortality, and provides better prognostic information than office BP. In addition, use of HBPM to monitor antihypertensive therapy can help to optimize reductions in BP, improve BP control, and reduce target organ damage and cardiovascular risk. Overall, HBPM should play a central role in the management of patients with hypertension, with the goal of identifying increased risk and predicting the onset of CVD events, allowing proactive interventions to reduce risk and eliminate adverse outcomes.

Nighttime Home Blood Pressure in Children: Association with Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Preclinical Organ Damage

[Figure: see text].

Effects of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on sleep in healthy, normotensive men and women

OBJECTIVES

To determine the effect of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) on sleep quality among healthy adults and to explore possible effect modification by demographics.

METHODS

We examined data from 192 relatively healthy young (median age: 31; 33% men, 18% with clinic BP >130/80 mmHg) participants in an observational study of sleep and arterial stiffness. Demographic/health questionnaires were completed. A wrist-based accelerometer assessed sleep for seven nights, and sleep duration, wakefulness after sleep onset (WASO), fragmentation (physical restlessness), midpoint, and efficiency were estimated. ABPM was conducted for one 36-h period, including one actigraphy night.

RESULTS

Within-subject comparisons indicated that WASO and fragmentation were higher, midpoint was later, and efficiency was lower on the ABPM night (Ps < 0.001-0.038). Neither age nor sex moderated these associations. Among older adults, a later midpoint and worse fragmentation were observed with ABPM (Ps = 0.002-0.010). There was also a main effect of sex: men demonstrated shorter sleep duration, greater WASO and fragmentation, and less efficiency than women (Ps = 0.002-0.046). With ABPM, women had worse fragmentation and a later midpoint (Ps = 0.002-0.049); for men, WASO and fragmentation were worse (Ps = 0.003-0.023). Importantly, this study does not address whether the effect of wearing ABPM on sleep in turn affects BP during sleep.

CONCLUSIONS

ABPM appears to modestly disturb actigraphy-assessed sleep among healthy adults. Researchers and clinicians should consider the downstream effects of performing ABPM and whether these effects are more pronounced in those who typically experience sleep disturbance.

Comparison of nighttime measurement schedules using a wrist-type nocturnal home blood pressure monitoring device

We investigated the optimal nighttime home blood pressure (BP) measurement schedule for wrist BP monitoring. Fifty hypertensive patients (mean age 68.9 ± 11.3 years) self‐measured their nighttime BP hourly using a wrist‐type nocturnal home BP monitoring device at home on two consecutive nights. Using the average 7.2 ± 1.5 measurements per night, we compared the clock‐based index (average of three measurements at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 a.m.) and the bedtime‐based index (average of three measurements at 2, 3, and 4 h after bedtime). The clock‐based average was significantly higher than the bedtime‐based average for both systolic BP (2.7 ± 8.2 mmHg, P = .002) and diastolic BP (1.9 ± 5.1 mmHg, P < .001). Compared to the average of all measurements throughout a night (the same definition of ambulatory BP monitoring, ie, from the time point of going to bed to awakening), the clock‐based average was comparable (systolic/diastolic BP: −0.5 ± 5.5/−0.2 ± 3.7), whereas the bedtime‐based average was significantly lower (−3.3 ± 5.0/−2.1 ± 3.6). Thus, the repeated measurement of wrist‐measured nighttime BP at three clock‐based time points per night provided reliable values. Further prospective studies of larger populations are required to confirm the optimal nighttime BP measurement schedule for wrist BP monitoring for the prediction of cardiovascular events.

Clinical significance of nocturnal home blood pressure monitoring and nocturnal hypertension in Asia

Nocturnal home blood pressure (BP) monitoring has been used in clinical practice for ~20 years. The authors recently showed that nocturnal systolic BP (SBP) measured by a home BP monitoring (HBPM) device in a Japanese general practice population was a significant predictor of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, independent of office and morning home SBP levels, and that masked nocturnal hypertension obtained by HBPM (defined as nocturnal home BP ≥ 120/70 mmHg and average morning and evening BP < 135/85 mmHg) was associated with an increased risk of CVD events compared with controlled BP (nocturnal home BP < 120/70 mmHg and average morning and evening BP < 135/85 mmHg). This evidence revealed that (a) it is feasible to use a nocturnal HBPM device for monitoring nocturnal BP levels, and (b) such a device may offer an alternative to ambulatory BP monitoring, which has been the gold standard for the measurement of nocturnal BP. However, many unresolved clinical problems remain, such as the measurement schedule and conditions for the use of nocturnal HBPM. Further investigation of the measurement of nocturnal BP using an HBPM device and assessments of the prognostic value are thus warranted. Asians are at high risk of developing nocturnal hypertension due to high salt sensitivity and salt intake, and the precise management of their nocturnal BP levels is important. Information and communication technology‐based monitoring devices are expected to facilitate the management of nocturnal hypertension in Asian populations.

Simultaneous self‐monitoring comparison of a supine algorithm‐equipped wrist nocturnal home blood pressure monitoring device with an upper arm device

A nocturnal home blood pressure (BP) monitoring device that measures nighttime BP levels accurately with less sleep disturbance is needed for the 24‐h management of hypertension. Here we conducted the first comparison study of simultaneous self‐monitoring by both a supine position algorithm‐equipped wrist nocturnal home BP monitoring device, the HEM‐9601T (NightView; Omron Healthcare) with a similar upper arm device, the HEM‐9700T (Omron Healthcare) in 50 hypertensive patients (mean age 68.9 ± 11.3 years). Both devices were worn on the same non‐dominant arm during sleep over two nights. The patients self‐measured their nighttime BP by starting nocturnal measurement mode just before going to bed. In total, 694 paired measurements were obtained during two nights (7.2 ± 1.5 measurements per night), and the mean differences (±SD) in systolic BP between the devices was 0.2 ± 10.2 mmHg (p = .563), with good agreement. In the comparison of nighttime BP indices, the difference in average SBP at 2:00, 3:00, and 4:00 AM and the average SBP of 1‐h interval measurements was −0.5 ± 5.5 mmHg (p = .337), with good agreement. The HEM‐9601T substantially reduced sleep disturbance compared to the upper arm‐type device. The newly developed HEM‐9601T (NightView) can thus accurately measure BP during sleep without reducing the wearer's sleep quality.

Adding Home and/or Ambulatory Blood Pressure to Office Blood Pressure for Cardiovascular Risk Prediction

Home and 24-hour blood pressure (BP_Home and BP_24h) are believed to improve the prognostic value of office BP (BP_Office) alone, but the evidence has limitations such as that (1) these 3 BPs are characterized by multicollinearity and (2) the procedures adopted do not allow quantification of the prognostic advantage. One thousand eight hundred thirty-three individuals belonging to the PAMELA (Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni) were followed for 16 years. Prediction of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality was determined via the goodness of fit of individual data (Cox model), the area underlying the receiving operator curves and the net reclassification improvement of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality risk. Calculations were made for BP_Office alone and after addition of BP_Home, BP_24h, or both, limited to their residual portion which was found to be unexplained by, and thus independent on, BP_Office. With all methods addition of residual out-of-office systolic or diastolic BP to BP_Office significantly improved cardiovascular and all-cause mortality prediction. The improvement was more consistent when BP_Home rather than BP_24h was added to BP_Office and, compared with BP_Office plus BP_Home, no better prediction was found when addition was extended to BP_24h. With all additions, however, the improvement was quantitatively modest, which was the case also when data were separately analyzed in younger and older individuals or in dippers and nondippers. Thus, addition of out-of-office to BP_Office improves prediction of cardiovascular risk, even when data analysis avoids previous limitations. The improvement appears to be limited, however, which raises the question of the advantage to recommend their extended use in clinical practice.

Supine blood pressure—A clinically relevant determinant of vascular target organ damage in hypertensive patients

Night‐time blood pressure (BP) is an important predictor of cardiovascular outcomes. Its assessment, however, remains challenging due to limited accessibility to ambulatory BP devices in many settings, costs, and other factors. We hypothesized that BP measured in a supine position during daytime may perform similarly to night‐time BP when modeling their association with vascular hypertension‐mediated organ damage (HMOD). Data from 165 hypertensive patients were used who as part of their routine clinic workup had a series of standardized BP measurements including seated attended office, seated and supine unattended office, and ambulatory BP monitoring. HMOD was determined by assessment of kidney function and pulse wave velocity. Correlation analysis was carried out, and univariate and multivariate models were fitted to assess the extent of shared variance between the BP modalities and their individual and shared contribution to HMOD variables. Of all standard non‐24‐hour systolic BP assessments, supine systolic BP shared the highest degree of variance with systolic night‐time BP. In univariate analysis, both systolic supine and night‐time BP were strong determinants of HMOD variables. In multivariate models, supine BP outperformed night‐time BP as the most significant determinant of HMOD. These findings indicate that supine BP may not only be a clinically useful surrogate for night‐time BP when ambulatory BP monitoring is not available, but also highlights the possibility that unattended supine BP may be more closely related to HMOD than other BP measurement modalities, a proposition that requires further investigations in prospective studies.

Textile-integrated polymer optical fibers for healthcare and medical applications

With ever growing interest in far-reaching solutions for pervasive healthcare and medicine, polymer optical fibers have been rendered into textile forms. Having both fiber-optic functionalities and traditional fabric-like comfort, textile-integrated polymer optical fibers have been advocated to remove the technical barriers for long-term uninterrupted health monitoring and treatment. In this context, this paper spotlights and reviews the recently developed textile-integrated polymer optical fibers in conjunction with fabrication techniques, applications in long-term continuous health monitoring and treatment, and future perspectives in the vision of mobile health (mHealth), as well as the introductory basics of polymer optical fibers. It is designed to serve as a topical guidepost for scientists and engineers on this highly interdisciplinary and rapidly growing topic.