Alterations of cardiac structure in patients with isolated office, ambulatory, or home hypertension: Data from the general population (Pressione Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni [PAMELA] Study)

Increased arterial stiffness and left ventricular remodelling as markers of masked hypertension: findings from the PAMELA population

BACKGROUND

The value of the association of arterial stiffness with left ventricular concentric remodelling/left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) assessed by echocardiography, for prediction of masked hypertension defined by office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in the general population is largely undefined. We investigated this topic in the participants to the Pressioni Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study.

METHODS

The study included 272 participants (153 normotensives and 119 with masked hypertension) who attended the second and third survey of the PAMELA study performed after 10 and 25 years from the initial evaluation. Data collection included medical history, physical examination, blood tests, office, ABPM, echocardiographic and Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) measurements.

RESULTS

Compared to normotensive individuals, participants with masked hypertension were younger, had significantly higher office, home, mean 24-h, day-time, night-time SBP/DBP and heart rate. The likelihood of having masked hypertension, was approximately more than two-fold higher [odds ratio (OR) = 2.29, confidence interval (CI): 1.01-5.31, P  = 0.04] in participants with increased CAVI and left ventricular remodelling/LVH compared to their counterparts without organ damage. This association showed a unique value in identifying masked hypertension compared to both isolated markers of organ damage (OR = 1.69, P  = 0.15 for increased CAVI and OR = 0.82, P  = 0.80 for left ventricular remodelling/LVH), after adjusting for age, sex, office SBP/DBP, antihypertensive treatment and diabetes.

CONCLUSION

The present study offers a new piece of evidence of the key value of looking for both vascular and cardiac organ damage to unmask MH and improve its clinical management in the general population.

Vascular ageing manifestations and hypertension in the community

Objective

To investigate the association between joint manifestations of vascular ageing (VA) and hypertension.

Methods

We used baseline (2008-2012) and follow-up data (up to 2024) from the Paris Prospective Study III, a French cohort of 10,157 participants. Prevalent and incident hypertension were determined at baseline (blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg or on medication) and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 years of follow-up (self-reported antihypertensive treatment). VA manifestations were assessed at baseline via echo-tracking in the right common carotid artery. Clustering analysis identified patterns of VA and their association with hypertension was assessed with logistic regression.

Results

The cross-sectional analysis included 9,096 participants (mean age: 59±6 years, 39 % female). Hypertension prevalence was 36 % (n = 3,276). Three clusters of VA manifestations were identified. Cluster 1 (n = 4,326;47.6 %) was characterized by healthy vascular ageing (HVA), Cluster 2 by increased arteriosclerosis (ART) (n = 2,274;25.0 %) and Cluster 3 by greater atherosclerosis prevalence (ATH) (n = 2,496;27.4 %). Compared to the HVA cluster, ART (aOR 3.94; 95 % CI 3.50;4.45) and ATH clusters (aOR 2.69; 95 % CI 2.38;3.04) were associated with prevalent hypertension. The prospective analysis included 5,310 normotensives with 754 (14.1 %) cases of incident hypertension (median follow-up of 10.05 years [range: 10.00;10.15]). Both ART (aOR 1.34; 95 % CI 1.08;1.65) and ATH (aOR 1.70; 95 % CI 1.40;2.07) clusters were associated with incident hypertension.

Conclusion

Vascular ageing manifestations reflecting increased carotid arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are related to prevalent and incident hypertension.

Clinic, Ambulatory and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring for Metabolic Syndrome: Time to Change the Definition?

Background and Objectives: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is considered a global epidemic, and its diagnosis is crucial, allowing early intervention and management. The main aim of this study was to examine any possible blood pressure (BP) differences based on office and out-of-office measurements in patients with and without MetS, and to investigate if any of these measurements correlated better with MetS. The secondary aim was to investigate any possible cardiovascular risk differences. Materials and Methods: The study population consisted of individuals attending the outpatient hypertension clinic. Office and out-of-office BP measurements were recorded in all of the patients, as well as different cardiovascular risk scores and echocardiography. MetS was defined according to ACC/AHA criteria. Results: A total of 282 (39.9% men) individuals (56.8 ± 15.8 years) were analyzed; 60.8% of them had MetS. The patients with MetS had a significantly higher systolic BP (SBP) in all of the BP measurements, higher ASCVD risk (22% vs. 12%), Framingham risk scores (11.8% vs. 6.9%), a significantly higher prevalence of LVH (49.2% vs. 22.7%) and early vascular aging (54.8% vs. 27.4%) compared with the patients without MetS (p < 0.05 for all). In a univariate analysis, MetS was significantly correlated with the average 24h SBP, daytime and nighttime ambulatory SBP, office SBP, and home SBP in the morning (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for any of the DBP measurements. Finally, 50.5% of the MetS patients had sustained hypertension, 15.2% masked hypertension, and 11.5% white-coat hypertension based on ABPM, and these values were 45.1%, 19.3%, and 13.6%, respectively, based on HBPM. Furthermore, most of the MetS patients had non-dipping hypertension (56.4%). Conclusions: The present findings highlight the importance of out-of-office BP measurements in the diagnosis of MetS, since both a high office and out-of-office SBP were significant features of the syndrome (whereas this was not the case with DBP). This is further supported by the increased prevalence of different hypertension phenotypes observed in the MetS patients. Higher ASCVD risk scores and LVH and EVA prevalence were also related to MetS, thus strongly supporting the necessity for early detection and treatment.

Ambulatory blood pressure is associated with left ventricular geometry after 10 years in hypertensive patients with continuous antihypertensive treatment

Both aging and high blood pressure (BP) are associated with a risk of left ventricular concentricity and hypertrophy. We hypothesized that optimal BP management improves left ventricular remodeling beyond aging. Among 558 hypertensive patients on continuous antihypertensive treatment and without concurrent heart disease who were referred to a cardiology clinic with echocardiography and ambulatory BP monitoring data, 142 patients' echocardiographic data was available after 10 years. Baseline BP and changes in left ventricular geometry were evaluated. Mean age at baseline was 71.0 years old. Baseline daytime BP was 129.9/72.4 ± 17.1/10.2 mmHg and nighttime BP was 122.5/67.1 ± 16.9/9.1 mmHg. After 10 years, left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT) significantly decreased from 104.5 ± 26.3 to 97.9 ± 26.4 g/m2, p = 0.003 and 0.51 ± 0.09 to 0.47 ± 0.09, p < 0.001, consecutively. Among patients with hypertrophic geometry at baseline, 17.2% reverted to normal geometry at follow-up. Daytime systolic BP (136.9 ± 18.5 mmHg vs 126.2 ± 16.5 mmHg, p = 0.03), nighttime systolic BP (126.2 ± 17.7 mmHg vs 116.3 ± 16.0 mmHg, p = 0.038) and daytime pulse pressure (63.5 ± 17.3 mmHg vs 53.1 ± 14.9 mmHg, p = 0.022) at baseline were higher in patients who remained hypertrophic than those without hypertrophy at follow-up. On logistic regression analysis, daytime, nighttime systolic BP, and daytime pulse pressure were significantly related to the regression of hypertrophy adjusted for age, sex, eGFR, BMI, LVMI, and RWT at baseline. For conclusion, antihypertensive treatment for 10 years improved LV geometry despite aging. Ambulatory BP and pulse pressure at baseline predicted the change of LV geometry after 10 years.

Assessing masked hypertension and ambulatory arterial stiffness index in children congenital kidney malformations

BACKGROUND

Patients diagnosed with congenital kidney malformations are at an increased risk of developing hypertension, proteinuria, and progressing to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study aimed to determine the frequency of masked hypertension and ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) in patients with congenital kidney malformations.

METHODS

The study included 174 patients with congenital kidney malformations (48 patients with unilateral renal agenesis (URA), 40 patients with ectopic kidney (EK), 36 patients with horseshoe kidney (HK), 31 patients with multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK), 19 patients with unilateral renal hypoplasia (URH), and 45 healthy controls.

RESULTS

The mean age was 12.9 ± 2.9 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5. No significant differences were observed between the congenital kidney malformations groups concerning age, sex, follow-up period, proteinuria, or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, the prevalence of masked hypertension exhibited a statistically significant increase in the congenital kidney malformations groups (except the URH group) compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The AASI was significantly greater in the congenital kidney malformations groups than in the control group (P < 0.05). The nighttime diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and DBP index were significantly different between the congenital kidney malformations groups (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in nondipping pattern, proteinuria, or masked hypertension between the congenital kidney malformations groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with congenital kidney malformations should be periodically evaluated throughout life for BP. Based on the present findings, we strongly recommend ABPM for the diagnosis of masked hypertension and outcomes, including AASI score.

Masked phenomenon: renal and cardiovascular complications; review and updates

BACKGROUND

In the in-clinic blood pressure (BP) recording setting, a sizable number of individuals with normal BP and approximately 30% of patients with chronic renal disease (CKD) exhibit elevated outpatient BP records. These individuals are known as masked hypertension (MHTN), and when they are on antihypertensive medications, but their BP is not controlled, they are called masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUHTN). The masked phenomenon (MP) (MHTN and MUHTN) increases susceptibility to end-organ damage (a two-fold greater risk for cardiovascular events and kidney dysfunction). The potential extension of the observed benefits of MP therapy, including a reduction in end-organ damage, remains questionable.

AIM AND METHODS

This review aims to study the diagnostic methodology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and significance of MP management in end-organs, especially the kidneys, cardiovascular system, and outcomes. To achieve the purposes of this non-systematic comprehensive review, PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar were searched using keywords, texts, and phrases such as masked phenomenon, CKD and HTN, HTN types, HTN definition, CKD progression, masked HTN, MHTN, masked uncontrolled HTN, CKD onset, and cardiovascular system and MHTN. We restricted the search process to the last ten years to search for the latest updates.

CONCLUSION

MHTN is a variant of HTN that can be missed if medical professionals are unaware of it. Early detection by ambulatory or home BP recording in susceptible individuals reduces end-organ damage and progresses to sustained HTN. Adherence to the available recommendations when dealing with masked phenomena is justifiable; however, further studies and recommendation updates are required.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Phenotypes, Arterial Stiffness, and Cardiac Remodeling

BACKGROUND

Evidence on the association of arterial stiffness and left ventricular (LV) concentric remodelling/LVH assessed by echocardiography, with abnormal blood pressure (BP) phenotypes, defined by office and ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) in the community is scanty. Thus, we investigated this issue in the participants to the Pressioni Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study.

METHODS

The present study included 491 participants who attended the second and third survey of the PAMELA study performed after 10 and 25 years from the initial evaluation. Data collection included medical history, anthropometric parameters, blood examinations, office, ABPM, echocardiographic and Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) measurements.

RESULTS

In the whole study sample (age 66+10 years, 50% males), the prevalence rates of sustained normotension (NT), white coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension (MH), sustained hypertension (SH) and non-dipping (ND) were 31.2, 10.0, 24.2, 34.6, and 35.8% and respectively. The likelihood of having SH, the BP phenotype carrying the greatest CV risk, was four times higher (OR= 4.31, CI:2.39-7.76, p<0.0001) in participants with increased CAVI and LV remodelling/LVH compared to their counterparts without organ damage. This association showed an incremental value in discriminating SH compared to both isolated markers of organ damage (OR=1.92,p=0.03 for increased CAVI and OR= 2.02, p=0.02 for LV remodelling/LVH). The presence of isolated but also combined organ damage was unrelated to ND.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides new evidence of the incremental value of looking for both vascular and cardiac target organ damage to optimize the identification and clinical management of SH in the general population.

Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index and left ventricular mass as markers of nocturnal blood pressure fall in the general population

BACKGROUND

Findings regarding the association between Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) and the extent of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) fall in the general population are scanty. We sought to investigate this issue in the participants enrolled in the Pressioni Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study.

METHODS

The study included 491 participants who attended the second and third surveys of the PAMELA study performed after 10 and 25 years from the initial evaluation. Data collection included medical history, anthropometric parameters, office, home, ambulatory blood pressure BP monitoring (ABPM), blood examinations, echocardiography, and CAVI measurements.

RESULTS

In the whole study, both CAVI and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were inversely correlated with nocturnal SBP fall, expressed as day-night percent change (r =  - 0.152, p = 0.0007, and r =  - 0.213, p < 0.0001, respectively). However, after adjustment for sex and age, the correlation remained significant only for LVMI (r =  - 0.124, p = 0.006). Non-dipper participants exhibited significantly higher sex-age adjusted LVMI (91 ± 22 vs 82 ± 18 g/m2 (p < 0.0001)), but not of CAVI (9.07 ± 2.0 and 9.57 ± 2.2 m/s, p = ns). Similar results were found when classifying participants into quartiles of nocturnal SBP drop. Finally, both sex-age adjusted CAVI and LVMI were positively correlated with mean nocturnal SBP (r = 0.181, p < 0.001, and r = 0.240, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Although arterial stiffness assessed by CAVI, unlike LVMI, is unrelated with the degree of nocturnal BP drop, this marker is useful in identifying nocturnal hypertension and optimizing cardiovascular risk stratification in the community.

Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index as a Marker of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Treated Hypertensives: Findings From the Pamela Study

BACKGROUND

Findings regarding the association between Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index (CAVI) and cardiac hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD), such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) assessed by echocardiography, in elderly hypertensive patients are scanty. We sought to investigate this issue in the hypertensive fraction of the general population treated with anti-hypertensive drugs enrolled in the Pressioni Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study.

METHODS

The study included 239 out of 562 participants who attended the second and third surveys of the PAMELA study performed after 10 and 25 years from the initial evaluation. Data collection included medical history, anthropometric parameters, office, home, ambulatory blood pressure (BP), blood examinations, echocardiography, and CAVI measurements.

RESULTS

In the whole study sample (age 69 ± 9 years, 54% males), CAVI was positively correlated with age, office, home, ambulatory systolic BP, LV mass (LVM) index, and negatively associated with body mass index (BMI). In multivariate analysis, CAVI was associated with the LVM index (P < 0.05) independently of major confounders. The participants with LVH exhibited significantly higher CAVI (10.6 ± 2.8 vs. 9.2 ± 1.8 m/s P < 0.001), larger left atrial diameter, and lower LV ejection fraction values than their counterparts without it. The CAVI value of 9.4 m/s was the best cut-off for prediction of LVH in the whole sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provides new evidence of an independent association between CAVI and LVH in treated elderly hypertensive patients and suggests that the use of this metric of arterial stiffness could not only be used to evaluate vascular damage but also to stratify the risk of LVH.

New-onset aortic dilatation in the population: a quarter-century follow-up

BACKGROUND

Aortic size tends to increase with aging but the extent of this dynamic process has not been evaluated in long-term longitudinal population-based studies. We investigated the incidence of new-onset aortic root (AR) dilatation and its principal correlates among middle-aged adults over a 25-year time period.

METHODS

A total of 471 participants with measurable echocardiographic parameters at baseline and after a 25-year follow-up were included in the analysis. Sex-specific upper limits of normality for absolute AR diameter, AR diameter indexed to body surface area (BSA) and to height were derived from healthy normotensive PAMELA participants.

RESULTS

New AR dilatation occurred in 7.4% (AR/BSA), 9.1% (AR/height) and 14.6% (absolute AR), respectively. According to the AR/height index, the risk of new dilation was similar in men and women. As for echocardiographic parameters, baseline AR diameter emerged as a key predictor of AR dilation, regardless of the diagnostic criteria and the 10-year change in LVMI was positively associated to new AR/height dilatation. No significant relationship was observed between baseline office and ambulatory systolic/diastolic blood pressure or their changes over time with incident AR dilatation. Baseline and the 25-year change in 24-h pulse pressure were negatively related to new AR dilatation.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of AR dilatation from mid to late adulthood occurs in a small but clinically relevant fraction of participants and is unaffected by both office and out-office BP. It is significant related to baseline AR diameter and to the 25-year change in LVMI. Our data suggest that echocardiography performed in middle-aged individuals of both sexes may identify those at increased risk of future AR dilatation; moreover, preventing LVH may reduce the risk of progressive AR enlargement.

Echocardiographic Phenotypes of Subclinical Organ Damage: Clinical and Prognostic Value in the General Population. Findings from the Pamela Study

Subclinical alterations in cardiac structure and function include a variety of abnormal phenotypes of established adverse prognostic significance such as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), alterations of LV geometry, left atrial (LA) enlargement, and aortic root (AR) dilatation. The excess cardiovascular (CV) risk associated with these phenotypes has been consistently demonstrated in different clinical settings such in patients with systemic hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, heart failure and in geneal population samples. The Pressioni Monitorate e Loro Associazioni (PAMELA), a longitudinal population-based study originally designed to assess the normality values, prognostic significance of office, home and 24-hour blood pressure, including among the many clinical and laboratory variables the collection of echocardiographic data, allowed to gather important information on the clinical prognostic significance of subclinical cardiac damage during a long follow-up period. This article summarizes the original findings provided by the PAMELA study on the clinical correlates and prognostic significance of echocardiographic markers of subclinical organa damage namely LVH, left atrial enlargement (LA) and AR dilatation at the community level.

Prevalence of Pediatric Masked Hypertension and Risk of Subclinical Cardiovascular Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Masked hypertension (MH) occurs when office blood pressure is normal, but hypertension is confirmed using out-of-office blood pressure measures. Hypertension is a risk factor for subclinical cardiovascular outcomes, including left ventricular hypertrophy, increased left ventricular mass index, carotid intima media thickness, and pulse wave velocity. However, the risk factors for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring defined MH and its association with subclinical cardiovascular outcomes are unclear. A systematic literature search on 9 databases included English publications from 1974 to 2023. Pediatric MH prevalence was stratified by disease comorbidities and compared with the general pediatric population. We also compared the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and mean differences in left ventricular mass index, carotid intima media thickness, and pulse wave velocity between MH versus normotensive pediatric patients. Of 2199 screened studies, 136 studies (n=28 612; ages 4-25 years) were included. The prevalence of MH in the general pediatric population was 10.4% (95% CI, 8.00-12.80). Compared with the general pediatric population, the risk ratio (RR) of MH was significantly greater in children with coarctation of the aorta (RR, 1.91), solid-organ or stem-cell transplant (RR, 2.34), chronic kidney disease (RR, 2.44), and sickle cell disease (RR, 1.33). MH patients had increased risk of subclinical cardiovascular outcomes compared with normotensive patients, including higher left ventricular mass index (mean difference, 3.86 g/m2.7 [95% CI, 2.51-5.22]), left ventricular hypertrophy (odds ratio, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.50-3.96]), and higher pulse wave velocity (mean difference, 0.30 m/s [95% CI, 0.14-0.45]). The prevalence of MH is significantly elevated among children with various comorbidities. Children with MH have evidence of subclinical cardiovascular outcomes, which increases their risk of long-term cardiovascular disease.

Masked Hypertension in Healthy Children and Adolescents: Who Should Be Screened?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The goal is to review masked hypertension (MH) as a relatively new phenomenon when patients have normal office BP but elevated out-of-office BP. Firstly, it was described in children in 2004. It has received increased attention in the past decade.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of MH in different pediatric populations differs widely between 0 and 60% based on the population studied, definition of MH, or method of out-of-office BP measurement. The highest prevalence of MH has been demonstrated in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), obesity, diabetes, and after heart transplantation. In healthy children but with risk factors for hypertension such as prematurity, overweight/obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or positive family history of hypertension, the prevalence of MH is 9%. In healthy children without risk factors for hypertension, the prevalence of MH is very low ranging 0-3%. In healthy children, only patients with the following clinical conditions should be screened for MH: high-normal/elevated office BP, positive family history of hypertension, and those referred for suspected hypertension who have normal office BP in the secondary/tertiary center.

Masked hypertension in a middle-aged population and its relation to manifestations of vascular disease

BACKGROUND

Masked hypertension is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, previous large studies have not used the same device to measure office and home blood pressure (BP) and adhered to current home BP measurement recommendations of the European Society of Hypertension. We aimed to characterize masked hypertension and explore its relation to manifestations of CVD.

METHODS

A randomly selected cohort of 5057 participants aged 50-64 years from the Swedish CardioPulmonary BioImage Study (SCAPIS) was evaluated with office and home BP using the semi-automatic Omron M10-IT oscillometric device. Additional analyses included pulse wave velocity (PWV) and coronary artery calcium score (CACS).

RESULTS

Of participants, 4122 did not have current antihypertensive treatment, and were thus included in our analyses. Of these, 2634 (63.9%) had sustained normotension, and 172 (4.2%) had masked hypertension. Participants with masked hypertension vs. sustained normotension were more often men (66.9 vs. 46.2%, P  < 0.001). Those with masked hypertension had higher mean PWV [9.3 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI 9.1-9.5) vs. 8.3 (95% CI 8.2-8.4) m/s, P  < 0.001] and odds ratio for CACS at least 100 [1.65 (95% CI 1.02-2.68), P  = 0.040]. These associations were similar in a posthoc analysis of masked hypertension and sustained normotension, matched for age, sex and systolic office BP.

CONCLUSION

Masked hypertension was associated with markers of CVD. This suggests that home BP is a better predictor of risk, even when the recordings are performed with the same measurement device, in a population-based setting with randomized recruitment.

The importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for diagnosing masked hypertension in patients with renal parenchymal scarring

BACKGROUND

The most well-known and common long-term complication in children with renal parenchymal scarring (RPS) is hypertension (HT). The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of HT in children with RPS based on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and to compare the patients' blood pressure (BP) to that in healthy controls matched for age, gender, and BMI.

METHODS

The study included 55 patients aged < 18 years diagnosed with RPS who were followed up for ≥ 1 year and 48 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and BMI.

RESULTS

Mean age in the RPS group was 12.8 ± 3.3 years, and 49.1% of the group were female. Among the RPS patients, 28 were diagnosed with HT based on ABPM, of which 18 (32.7%) had an office BP < 90th percentile for age, gender, and height; seven had an office BP between the 90-95th percentiles for age, gender, and height; and three had an office BP > 95 percentile for age, gender, and height. The difference in detection of HT based on ABPM between the two groups was significant (P = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Early diagnosis of HT via ABPM can help prevent development of kidney failure and cardiovascular disease in patients with RPS, significantly reducing the rates of morbidity and mortality. All children with RPS should be evaluated via ABPM, even if office BP measurements are normal. "A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information".

Comparison of electrocardiographic versus echocardiographic detection of left ventricular mass changes over time and evaluation of new onset left ventricular hypertrophy

We assessed the value of 3 electrocardiographic (EKG) voltage criteria in detecting variations of left ventricular mass (LVM) over time, taking echocardiographic (ECHO) LVM as reference, in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni study. In 927 subjects (age 47 ± 13 years on entry, 49.9% men) an ECHO evaluation of LVM and EKG suitable for measurement of EKG-LVH criteria (Sokolow-Lyon voltage, Cornell voltage and R-wave voltage in aVL) were available at baseline and at a 2^nd evaluation performed 10 years later. Δ (delta) LVM, Δ LVMI, and Δ EKG parameters values were calculated from 2^nd evaluation to baseline. The sensitivity of the EKG criteria in the diagnosis of LVH, poor at baseline, becomes even worse after 10 years, reaching very low values. Only the sensitivity of R-wave amplitude exhibited slight increase over time but with unsatisfactory absolute values. Despite the prevalence of ECHO-LVH at the 2^nd evaluation was threefold increased compared to baseline (29.3% and 33.7% for LVM indexed to BSA and height^2.7 , respectively), the prevalence of EKG-LVH was unchanged when evaluated by Sokolow-Lyon criteria, significantly reduced when assessed by Cornell voltage index, while significantly increased using R-wave voltage in aVL criteria. Despite an ECHO-LVM increase over the time, mean EKG changes were of opposite sign, except for R-wave amplitude in aVL. Our study highlights the discrepancy between ECHO and EKG in monitoring LVM changes over the time, especially for Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell voltage. Thus, EKG is an unsuitable method for the longitudinal evaluation of LVM variations.

Relationship of the White Coat Effect with Endpoints and Several Prognostic Indicators in Hypertensive Patients Treated with Regular Antihypertensive Therapy

Aim of the study was to evaluate in a prospective cohort study the relationship between the severity of the white coat effect (WHE) in patients with hypertension, who treated with regular antihypertensive therapy, and the composite endpoint, several prognostic indicators, in a routine clinical practice.

Material and Methods. We analyzed the data of a prospective cohort study, which included 125 patients with hypertension who received regular antihypertensive therapy. The study consisted of three visits (baseline, 6 and 12 months) and an outcome data collection period (30.1±7.6 months of follow-up after the third visit). This study included three visits every 3 months: 1 visit – screening, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) session, Echo; 2 – assessment of the patient’s status and the therapy effectiveness; 3- assessment of the patient’s status, ABPM session, Echo (the total number of ABPM was 239, Echo - 240). The primary composite endpoint included death for any reason angina pectoris, transient ischemic attack, development of chronic heart failure, arterial revascularization, frequent ventricular extrasystoles, atrial fibrillation, secondary - deterioration of the cardiovascular diseases course and tertiary endpoint – deterioration of the arterial hypertension, concomitant diseases course.

Results. The study involved 125 patients: 28 men (22%), 97 women (78%), mean age was 62.6±0.8 years, duration of hypertension 11.6±0.8 years, height 163.6±0.7 cm, body weight 83.1±1.4 kg. The baseline mean daytime systolic BP (SBP) was 125.1±9.8 and diastolic (DBP) – 76.1±7.0 mm Hg, age was 62.8±9.0 years, the WCE level for SBP was 16.5±1.4, for DBP 10.9±0.7 mm Hg. We identified a positive correlation between tertiary composite endpoint data and WCE: for systolic WCE (SWCE) (F = 4.7, p<0.031). We found correlations between WCE and Echo parameters: 1) SWCE level had with LVMI (r = 0.16. p<0.017); 2) diastolic WCE (DWCE) had negative relationship with LV contractility parameters.

Conclusions. Thus, only systolic WCE level had correlation with composite endpoint data and LVMI. DWCE level had negative associations with echocardiography LV contractility parameters.

Target Blood Pressure Values in Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

INTRODUCTION

2018 ESC/ESH guidelines have recommended 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to assess hypotensive therapy in many circumstances. Recommended target blood pressure in office blood pressure measurements is between 120/70 and 130/80 mmHg. Such targets for 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring lacks.

AIM

We aimed to define target values of blood pressure in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in hypertensive patients.

METHODS

Office blood pressure measurements and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data were collected from 1313 hypertensive patients and sorted following increasing systolic (SBP)/diastolic (DBP) blood pressure in office blood pressure measurements. The corresponding 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to office blood pressure measurements values were calculated.

RESULTS

Values 130/80 mmHg in office blood pressure measurements correspond in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: night-time SBP/DBP mean: 113.74/66.95 mmHg; daytime SBP/DBP mean: 135.02/81.78 mmHg and 24-h SBP/DBP mean: 130.24/78.73 mmHg. Values 120/70 mmHg in office blood pressure measurements correspond in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring: night-time SBP/DBP mean: 109.50/63.43 mmHg; daytime SBP/DBP mean: 131.01/78.47 mmHg and 24-h SBP/DBP mean: 126.36/75.31 mmHg.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed blood pressure target values in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring complement the therapeutic target indicated in the ESC/ESH recommendations and improves 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring usefulness in clinical practice.

Nighttime mean arterial pressure is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy in white‐coat hypertension

White‐coat hypertension (WCH) is associated with increased cardiovascular risks. To investigate the relationship between WCH and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), the authors recruited 706 participants who underwent anthropometric measurements, blood laboratory analysis, 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and echocardiography. The authors defined WCH as elevated office BP but normal ABPM over 24h, daytime, and nighttime periods. The authors compared the proportion of LVH between the true normotension (NT) and the WCH population, and further assessed the associations between BP indexes and LVH in the two groups, respectively. The proportion of LVH was significantly higher in the WCH group than in NT participants (19.70% vs. 13.12%, P = .036). In the NT group, 24h SBP, 24h PP, daytime SBP, daytime PP and SD of nighttime SBP were associated with LVH after adjustment for demographic and blood biochemical data (all P < .05). In the WCH population, LVH was associated with 24h SBP, nighttime SBP, nighttime MAP, and office SBP after adjustment (all P < .05). However, on forward logistic regression analysis with all the BP indexes listed above, only 24h SBP (OR = 1.057, 1.017–1.098, P < .001) in the NT group, and nighttime MAP (OR = 1.114, 1.005–1.235, P < .05) and office SBP (OR = 1.067, 1.019–1.117, P < .001) in the WCH group were still significantly associated with LVH. Our study suggests that the proportion of LVH is higher in WCH patients than in the NT population. Furthermore, elevated nighttime MAP and office SBP may play critical roles in the development of LVH in the WCH population.

Hypotension as a marker or mediator of perioperative organ injury: a narrative review

Perioperative hypotension has been repeatedly associated with organ injury and worse outcome, yet many interventions to reduce morbidity by attempting to avoid or reverse hypotension have floundered. In part, this reflects uncertainty as to what threshold of hypotension is relevant in the perioperative setting. Shifting population-based definitions for hypertension, plus uncertainty regarding individualised norms before surgery, both present major challenges in constructing useful clinical guidelines that may help improve clinical outcomes. Aside from these major pragmatic challenges, a wealth of biological mechanisms that underpin the development of higher blood pressure, particularly with increasing age, suggest that hypotension (however defined) or lower blood pressure per se does not account solely for developing organ injury after major surgery. The mosaic theory of hypertension, first proposed more than 60 yr ago, incorporates multiple, complementary mechanistic pathways through which clinical (macrovascular) attempts to minimise perioperative organ injury may unintentionally subvert protective or adaptive pathways that are fundamental in shaping the integrative host response to injury and inflammation. Consideration of the mosaic framework is critical for a more complete understanding of the perioperative response to acute sterile and infectious inflammation. The largely arbitrary treatment of perioperative blood pressure remains rudimentary in the context of multiple complex adaptive hypertensive endotypes, defined by distinct functional or pathobiological mechanisms, including the regulation of reactive oxygen species, autonomic dysfunction, and inflammation. Developing coherent strategies for the management of perioperative hypotension requires smarter, mechanistically solid interventions delivered by RCTs where observer bias is minimised.

Re-evaluating hypertension in children according to different guidelines: a single-center study

We aimed to evaluate the agreements between the guidelines used for both office blood pressure (OBP) and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Our secondary aim was to define the best threshold to assess children at risk of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Thresholds proposed by the Fourth Report (FR), European Society of Hypertension (ESH), and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) for OBP and the Wühl, ESH, and American Heart Association (AHA) for ABPM were used, and nine different BP phenotype combinations were created. The agreements between the thresholds, the sensitivity of the thresholds, and the BP phenotypes used to predict LVH were determined in 949 patients with different ages and body mass indices (BMIs). The agreements between the guidelines for OBP and ABPM were "good" and "very good" (κ = 0.639; 95% CI, 0.638-0.640, κ = 0.986; 95% CI, 0.985-0.988), respectively. To classify OBP and ABPM into BP phenotypes, we obtained nine different combinations, which had "very good" agreement (κ = 0.880; 95% CI, 0.879-0.880). The sensitivity of AAP for detecting LVH was the highest in <12-year-old obese children (S = 75.8, 95% CI, 56.4-89.7). The sensitivity of ABPM in detecting LVH was similar among different age and BMI groups. The sensitivity of different BP phenotypes tended to be higher in the groups where OBP was evaluated according to AAP. The highest sensitivity was detected in the 13- to 15-year-old normal weight group.(S: 88.8, 95% CI, 51.7-99.7). The AAP guideline is more sensitive and decisive for BP phenotypes to detect LVH, especially in normal-weight children ≤ 15 years, while ABPM thresholds for children have limited effect.

Current applications and limitations of European guidelines on blood pressure measurement: implications for clinical practice

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular (CV) risk factor, strongly and independently associated with an increased risk of major CV outcomes, including myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, renal disease and death due to CV causes. Effective control of hypertension is of key importance for reducing the risk of hypertension-related CV complications, as well as for reducing the global burden of CV mortality. However, several studies reported relatively poor rates of control of high blood pressure (BP) in a setting of real-life practice. To improve hypertension management and control, national and international scientific societies proposed several educational and therapeutic interventions, among which the systematic implementation of out-of-office BP measurements represents a key element. Indeed, proper assessment of individual BP profile, including home, clinic and 24-h ambulatory BP levels, may improve awareness of the disease, ensure high level of adherence to prescribed medications in treated hypertensive patients, and thus contribute to ameliorate BP control in treated hypertensive outpatients. In line with these purposes, recent European guidelines have released practical recommendations and clear indications on how, when and how properly measuring BP levels in different clinical settings, with different techniques and different methods. This review aimed at discussing current applications and potential limitations of European guidelines on how to measure BP in office and out-of-office conditions, and their potential implications in the daily clinical management of hypertension.

24-h-Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring in Sub-Saharan Africa: Hypertension Phenotypes and Dipping Patterns in Malawian HIV+ Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy

Background:

Cardiovascular disease and especially hypertension are a growing problem among people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives:

As robust data on hypertension phenotypes associated with distinct cardiovascular risks among PLHIV are limited, we aimed to assess the frequency of white-coat (WCH), masked (MH) hypertension, and blood pressure dipping-patterns in a group of Malawian PLHIV.

Methods:

As part of the prospective Lighthouse-Tenofovir-Cohort-Study, we analyzed clinical, laboratory and 24-h-ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) data of PLHIV from urban Lilongwe with treated or untreated hypertension or raised office blood pressure (OBP) during routine study-visits.

Results:

118 PLHIV were included and data of 117 participants could be analyzed. Twenty–four-hour ABPM normotension was found in a total of 73 PLHIV including 14/37 on antihypertensive treatment (37.8%). Using strict definitions, i.e. normal OBP plus normal mean BP for all periods of ABPM, controlled hypertension was found in only 4/37 (10.8%) PLHIV on antihypertensive treatment while true normotension was observed in 10/24 untreated patients (41.7%) with previously diagnosed hypertension and 22/56 patients (39.3%) without a medical history of hypertension. WCH with normal BP during all periods of 24-h-ABPM was identified in 12/64 OBP-hypertensive PLHIV (18.8%), primarily in patients with grade 1 hypertension (11/41 patients; 26.8%). MH was found in 17/53 PLHIV with OBP-normotension (32.1%), predominantly in patients with high normal BP (11/20 patients; 55%). The estimated glomerular filtration rate tended to be lower in MH compared to strictly defined normotensive PLHIV (92.0±20.4 vs. 104.8±15.7 ml/min/m²). 64.1 percent of PLHIV (59.5% with 24-h hypertension and 66.7% with 24-h normotension) had abnormal systolic dipping.

Conclusion:

The high prevalence of WCH and MH with signs of early renal end-organ damage and an abnormal dipping in approximately 2/3 of PLHIV warrants further investigation as these factors may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk in PLHIV in resource-limited settings like Malawi.

Clinical Trial Registration:

https://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02381275), registered March 6th, 2015.

Biomarkers of high salt intake

High salt intake is associated with hypertension, which is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). International Guidelines recommend a large reduction in the consumption of sodium to reduce blood pressure, organ damage, and mortality. In its early stages, the symptoms of CKD are generally not apparent. CKD proceeds in a "silent" manner, necessitating the need for urinary biomarkers to detect kidney damage at an early stage. Since traditional renal biomarkers, such as serum creatinine, are not sufficiently sensitive, difficulties are associated with detecting kidney damage induced by a high salt intake, particularly in normotensive individuals. Several new biomarkers for renal tubular damage, such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), vanin-1, liver-type fatty acid-binding protein (L-FABP), and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), have recently been identified. However, few studies have investigated early biomarkers for CKD progression associated with a high salt diet. This chapter provides insights into novel biomarkers for CKD in normo- and hypertensive individuals with a high salt intake. Recent studies using spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) fed a high salt diet identified urinary vanin-1 and NGAL as early biomarkers for renal tubular damage in SHR and WKY, whereas urinary KIM-1 was a useful biomarker for salt-induced renal injury in SHR only. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these findings.

[Associated factors and sub-clinical myocardial dysfunction in obese patients with masked hypertension]

INTRODUCTION

Obesity is a worldwide health problem. Masked hypertension is a relatively recent reported entity with a diagnostic problem. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and paraclinical characteristics and to identify the predictive factors of masked hypertension in obese patients.

METHODS

It is a prospective study including obese patients with normal arterial pressure at office. All of these patients were given ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) to screen for masked hypertension, laboratory tests and a complete echocardiography study.

RESULTS

A total of 50 patients were included. The mean age was 46.52±10.4 years. The mean systolic blood pressure (BP) at office was 120.8±8.8mmHg and the mean diastolic BP was 75±7.3mmHg. The prevalence of masked hypertension in obese adults was 36% with a predominantly non-dipper profile (38%). The study of echocardiographic parameters found dilated left atrium (LA) in 16 patients (32%). The left ventricle (LV) was hypertrophied in 32 patients (64%). The overall LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) was on average -18.85±0.9% and the LA GLS was on average 37.35±4.5%. In our study, metabolic syndrome, low HDL cholesterol, elevated fasting blood glucose, hyperuricemia, LA dilatation, LV hypertrophy, diastolic LV dysfunction and altered myocardial deformities were factors associated with masked hypertension in obese adults.

CONCLUSION

It is important to screen for hypertension by ambulatory measurement in at-risk obese patients who present associated cardiovascular risk factors to reduce morbidity and mortality. Echocardiography and speckle tracking analysis could be helpful in detection sub-clinical myocardial deterioration in obese patients with masked hypertension.

The pressioni arteriose monitorate e loro associazioni (PAMELA) research project: a 25-year long journey

INTRODUCTION

Among the observational studies performed in the area of blood pressure measurements in the population the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) investigation represents an unique research for a number of reasons.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION AND SYNTHESIS

The PAMELA study combines clinic, home and 24-hour blood pressure measurements in all partiicipants, which were representative of the general population. Examination included metabolic variables, allowing us to determine the interrelationships between bood pressure and metabolic profile. The protocol also included evaluation of organ damage, such as left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, left atrial dimensions and aortic root diameters. Finally, PAMELA represents one of the few studies with a prolonged follow-up, the last survey being completed three years ago and data collected are actually under analysis. This will allow to update the information related to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the study cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

The present paper will provide an overview of the various scientific contributions of the PAMELA study to the epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical aspects of hypertension and hypertension related cardiovascular risk.

Significance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in assessment of potential living kidney donors

The most recent British Transplant Society (BTS) guidelines recommend that office blood pressure (BP) monitoring in living donors is sufficient for the assessment of hypertension (HTN) and those with BP >140/90 should be further assessed using ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). ABPM can detect diurnal and nocturnal variation in BP, thus it can identify masked HTN. The aim of the current study is to assess reliability of ABPM vesus office BP monitoring for assessment in living kidney donors. Office and ABPM of all potential kidney donors at a single center from April 2009 to March 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and compared. Age, sex, body mass index, kidney function, and echocardiography results were collected and analyzed. Two hundred and sixteen kidney donors were stratified based on their BP readings into four groups; group 1 (masked HTN: normotensive in office and hypertensive in ABPM), group 2 (sustained normotension: normotensive in office and in ABPM), group 3 (sustained HTN: hypertensive in office and in ABPM), group 4 (white-coat HTN: hypertensive in office and normotensive in ABPM). Thirteen percent of patients were diagnosed with masked HTN. Office systolic BP monitoring was significantly higher in patients older than 50 years old compared to other younger populations. However, this significant difference in systolic BP was diminished when assessment with ABPM was performed. In conclusion, ABPM is a reliable modality for the identification of masked HTN and white coat HTN. Masked HTN is correlated with increased risk of end organ damage and risk of death in potential kidney donors. Transplant physicians cannot rely solely on office BP monitoring in the assessment of potential living kidney donors. ABPM should be integral part of routine assessment of potential living kidney donors.

Risk of Target Organ Damage in Patients with Masked Hypertension versus Sustained Hypertension: A Meta-analysis

Objective: To compare the risk of target organ damage in masked hypertension (MH) and sustained hypertension (SH).Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed. A search of PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library of relevant case-control studies was performed from inception to December 2019, and articles on MH and SH selected according to the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The primary end point was target organ damage in the heart. The secondary end points were target organ damage in the kidneys and blood vessels.Results: Seventeen studies that met the screening criteria were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the SH group, in the MH group carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and E/A ratio were significantly greater and the prevalence of left ventricular remodeling and the pulse wave velocity were significantly lower. Other indicators in the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels were not statistically different between the two groups. IMT: P=0.01, E/A ratio: P=0.01, prevalence of left ventricular remodeling: P=0.02, pulse wave velocity: P=0.01.Conclusion: Our study has shown that MH may have almost the same degree of target organ damage as SH, so clinicians may need to consider target organ damage.

Targeting persistent normal left ventricular geometry in the general population: a 25-year follow-up study

AIM

Findings regarding the extent of persistence over time of normal left ventricular (LV) geometry, a reference healthy echocardiographic phenotype, in the community are scanty. We sought to assess this issue in members of the general population enrolled in the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni study.

METHODS

The study included 433 participants who attended the second and third survey of the Pressioni Arteriose Monitorate e Loro Associazioni study performed after 10 and 25 years from the initial evaluation. Data collection included medical history, anthropometric parameters, office, home, ambulatory blood pressure, routine blood examinations and echocardiography.

RESULTS

During 25-year follow-up 167 participants showed persistently normal LV mass (LVM) and LV geometry pattern, whereas 266 participants exhibited LV hypertrophy or LV concentric remodelling at any point during study. Compared with participants developing, maintaining or regressing from LV hypertrophy and LV concentric remodelling those with a persistently normal LVM index and geometry were younger (-8 years) and more frequently female (63 vs. 45%), exhibited baseline (and follow-up) lower office and out-of-office blood pressure, BMI, serum creatinine, fasting blood glucose total serum cholesterol and rate of antihypertensive treatment. In multivariate regression analysis age [odds ratio (OR): 0.93, confidence interval (CI): 0.91-0.96, P < 0.0001] BMI (OR: 0.90, CI: 0.83-0.97, P = 0.008), office SBP (OR: 0.97, CI: 0.95-0.99, P = 0.005) and fasting blood glucose (OR: 0.96, CI: 0.93-0.99, P = 0.007) were independently associated with persistent normal LVM index and geometry.

CONCLUSION

The current long-term longitudinal study suggests that persistence of normal LV geometry is associated with normal/optimal SBP, BMI and blood glucose. Thus, a closer control of these risk factors in midlife may increase the likelihood of maintaining normal ventricular geometry and, in turn, reduce the burden of subclinical cardiac organ damage and related complications in advanced age.

Hypertension in psoriasis patients: based on office and ambulatory blood pressure measurement

OBJECTIVE

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder, which is associated with high risk of metabolic comorbidities. Hypertension (HTN) is among the most common and serious associations. In this study, we aimed to evaluate HTN in psoriatic patients through office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Forty-nine patients with confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis were enrolled in the study. Office measurement of blood pressure was performed and then holter monitoring was used for 24-h ABPM.

RESULTS

Thirty-six patients (73.4%) had HTN including 13 females (36.1%) and 23 males (63.9%) (P = 0.011). Twelve patients (33.3%) had masked HTN (six females and six males). Office, 24-h, morning, daytime, and nocturnal HTN were present in 49%, 40.8%, 34.7%, 36.7%, and 63.3% of our patients, respectively. The only factor significantly related to morning/daytime/24 h HTN was age, which hypertensive patients had higher age. About 22.4% of patients had metabolic syndrome, which was significantly associated with FBS, weight, waist circumference, and BMI.

CONCLUSION

Psoriasis is associated with a high rate of HTN. Masked HTN constitutes nearly one-third of hypertensive patients. ABPM increases the accuracy of HTN detection in psoriatic patients.

Cardiovascular Alterations and Management of Patients With White Coat Hypertension: A Meta-Analysis

A large and growing body of literature has focused on the association between "white coat hypertension" (WCH) and the underlying target organ damage. The evidence suggests that WCH is may not an entirely benign phenomenon. However, whether patients with WCH should receive antihypertensive drugs is unresolved. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to fully determine the ability of WCH to alter cardiovascular structure and to determine whether patients with WCH could benefit from drug intervention. Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception through 21 Oct 2019. A total of 25 studies (8,100 individuals) were included. In participants with WCH, values of aortic pulse wave velocity, augmentation index, intima-media thickness, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular posterior wall thickness, and left ventricular mass index were lower than those with sustained hypertension, but greater than those in the normotensive group. Of note, antihypertensive drug therapy did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with WCH. WCH is accompanied by alterations of cardiovascular structure; however, the benefits from antihypertensive therapy are limited.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Blood Pressure Phenotypes in Patients with Hypertension and Chronic Respiratory Diseases (Study of Ambulatory Practice Data of a Cardiologist)

Diagnosis of the blood pressure (BP) phenotype is the most important indication for its ambulatory measurement because BP phenotype is associated with cardiovascular complications and death. The study of BP phenotypes is important for patients with hypertension (HT) and comorbidity, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The combination of HT with these lower airway diseases (LAD) leads to the mutual influence of pathologies creates difficulties in the drugs choice and may affect BP phenotype in HT patients.

Aim. To compare in the prospective investigation various characteristics of BP phenotype in HT patients considering LAD (asthma or COPD).

Material and methods. The prospective cohort study of ambulatory patients with HT (n=156) was carried out. The part of these patients had asthma or COPD (n=69). The clinical measurements and 24-hour BP monitoring, spirometry, clinical and biochemical blood tests, standard examination were performed, initially and after 12 months. BP phenotype were determined by the ratio of clinical BP and ambulatory BP considering their threshold values. Standard statistical methods and multivariate analysis were used.

Results. Patients with LAD had 2 times more often prognostically unfavorable phenotypes: ineffective antihypertensive therapy (AHT) 37.3% vs 15.7% and masked AHT inefficiency 7.5% vs 4.5%; white coat HT on treatment (WCH) and effective AHT were less common(29.9% vs 42.7%; 25.5% vs 37.1%, respectively, p 148 mm Hg (b=2.733, p=0.040), LAD (b=1.015, p=0.011), serum total cholesterol (b=0.350, p=0.043), degree of nighttime diastolic BP decrease (for 13.1-18.0% b=-2.130, p=0.004; for 18.1-24.0% b=-2.509, p=0.001). The factors associated with masked AHT inefficiency in comparison to effective AHT were heart rate in orthostasis >87 beats/min(b=3,512, p=0.006) and SBP in orthostasis 141-148 mm Hg (b=3.405, p=0.004).

Conclusion. The prevalence of prognostically unfavorable BP phenotypes (ineffective AHT and masked AHT inefficiency) is two times higher in HT patients with LAD. The first is associated with LAD presence, sex, and serum cholesterol; both phenotypes interrelated with hemodynamic parameters including degree of nighttime diastolic BP decrease. We found no association between AHT and LAD therapy with the BP phenotypes in this study. However, larger works in this area are required, including analysis of outcomes in long-term prospective studies.

Nocturnal blood pressure: the dark side of white-coat hypertension

AIM

The impact of defining white-coat hypertension (WCH) and white-coat uncontrolled hypertension (WCUH) based on daytime and night-time thresholds of ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), instead of 24-h mean value, is unclear. We aimed to reclassify BP status according to both diurnal and nocturnal thresholds in a large sample of hypertensive patients seen in a specialist center and previously classified as WCH and WCUH based on 24-h BP values.

METHODS

A data-base of 7353 individual 24-h ABP monitoring (ABPM) from untreated and treated hypertensive individuals with office BP at least 140 mmHg and/or 90 mmHg was analysed and a subset of 3223 patients characterized by mean 24-h BP less than 130/80 mmHg (i.e. WCH and WCUH) was included in the present analysis.

RESULTS

As many as 1281 patients were classified as WCH and 1942 as WCUH. Among them, elevated out-of-office BP according to night-time threshold (i.e. ≥120/70 mmHg) was found in about 30% of cases. In particular, prevalence rates of nocturnal hypertension were 26.9% in WCH and 31.8% in WCUH. Isolated daytime hypertension (i.e. ≥135/85 mmHg) was detected in an additional 4% of individuals.

CONCLUSION

Classification of WCH and WCUH based on mean 24-h BP thresholds does not allow to detect an adverse BP phenotype, such as nocturnal hypertension in a large fraction of untreated and treated patients.

A comparative meta-analysis of prospective observational studies on masked hypertension and masked uncontrolled hypertension defined by ambulatory and home blood pressure

BACKGROUND

In a comparative meta-analysis, we investigated the prognostic value of masked hypertension and masked uncontrolled hypertension defined by ambulatory or home blood pressure (BP) monitoring.

METHODS

We searched English literature published till 2 September 2018 to identify prospective observational studies. Masked hypertension was defined as a normal clinic BP (<140/90 mmHg) in the presence of an elevated 24 h, daytime or night-time ambulatory or home BP. Clinical outcomes included all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, and fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular, stroke, cardiac, coronary and renal disease events.

RESULTS

In total, 21 studies (n = 130 318) were included. Overall, compared with normotensive participants, masked hypertensive patients had a 5.7/2.9 mmHg higher clinic BP and 18.7/9.8 mmHg higher out-of-office BP. The pooled risk ratio for masked hypertension versus normotension was 1.67 (95% confidence interval, 1.32-2.13) and 2.19 (1.72-2.78) for all-cause (eight studies) and cardiovascular mortality (three studies), respectively, and 1.71 (1.53-1.91), 1.95 (1.36-2.80), 1.76 (1.33-2.33), 1.62 (0.27-9.60), 3.85 (2.03-7.31) for fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular (15 studies), stroke (two studies), cardiac (two studies), coronary (two studies) and renal disease events (two studies), respectively. Risk ratios for all-cause mortality (1.78 versus 1.40, P = 0.16) and fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events (1.81 versus 1.61, P = 0.29) were similar between studies on ambulatory and home BP monitoring in the overall analyses. The analyses in subgroups according to treatment status (untreated, treated or mixed) and sampling approach (population or referred patients) were confirmatory.

CONCLUSION

Masked hypertension and masked uncontrolled hypertension were associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes, regardless of the out-of-office BP monitoring techniques.

Hypertension and metabolic disorders, a glance from different phenotypes

The extraordinary expansion of cardiometabolic risk factors, the impact they generate in the development of hypertension and its specific phenotypes, and its implications in cardiovascular risk and therapeutic decision-making deserve an extensive and careful reflection. The aim of this review is to analyze the available evidence and gaps in the relationship between cardiometabolic risk factors and hypertension phenotypes. Overweight or obese patients, dyslipidemic, carbohydrate intolerant and type 2 diabetic patients have a significantly higher probability of suffering from high blood pressure than subjects without metabolic disorders. Masked hypertension should be systematically suspected in subjects with type 2 diabetes or metabolic disorders and borderline hypertension independently of the debate on the reproducibility of blood pressure phenotypes diagnosis. Some minor difficulties emerge to understand the phenotypes of hypertension in diabetic individuals, since clinical practice guidelines are not homogeneous in their postulates regarding the blood pressure targets at office and ambulatory and home blood pressure monitoring. The small number of diabetic hypertensive patients included in epidemiological studies, and the presence of confounding factors, such as the duration of diabetes, the quantity and type of drugs indicated for the treatment of both hypertension and diabetes, or the level of diabetes control, undermine the possibilities to draw conclusions of value for the clinical practice.

Epidemiological Impact and Clinical Consequences of Masked Hypertension: A Narrative Review

Masked hypertension (MHT) is a clinical condition characterized by normal blood pressure (BP) levels during clinical consultation and above normal out-of-office BP values. MHT is associated to an increased risk of developing hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) and major cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, such as myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalizations due to CV causes, as well as to metabolic abnormalities and diabetes, thus further promoting the development and progression of atherosclerotic disease. Previous studies showed contrasting data on prevalence and clinical impact of MHT, due to not uniform diagnostic criteria (including either home or 24-h ambulatory BP measurements, or both) and background antihypertensive treatment. Whatever the case, over the last few years the widespread diffusion of validated devices for home BP monitoring has promoted a better diagnostic assessment and proper identification of individuals with MHT in a setting of clinical practice, thus resulting in increased prevalence of this clinical condition with potential clinical and socio-economic consequences. Several other items, in fact, remain unclear and debated, particularly regarding the therapeutic approach to MHT. The aim of this narrative review is to illustrate the clinical definition of MHT, to analyze the diagnostic algorithm, and to discuss the potential pharmacological approaches to be adopted in this clinical condition, in the light of the recommendations of the recent European hypertension guidelines.

Diversity of and initiatives for hypertension management in Asia-Why we need the HOPE Asia Network

The Hypertension Cardiovascular Outcome Prevention and Evidence in Asia (HOPE Asia) Network was set up to improve the management of hypertension in Asia with the ultimate goal of achieving "zero" cardiovascular events. Asia is a diverse continent, and the prevalence of hypertension has increased over the last 30 years. There are a number of Asia-specific features of hypertension and hypertension-related cardiovascular complications, which means that a region-specific approach is needed. White-coat hypertension will become more of an issue over time as Asian populations age, and masked hypertension is more prevalent in Asian than in Western countries. Identifying and treating masked hypertension is important to reduce cardiovascular risk. Abnormal patterns of blood pressure (BP) variability common in Asia include exaggerated early morning BP surge and nocturnal hypertension. These are also important cardiovascular risk factors that need to be managed. Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is an important tool for detecting white-coat and masked hypertension, and monitoring BP variability, and practices in Asia are variable. Use of HBPM is important given the Asia-specific features of hypertension, and strategies are needed to improve and standardize HBPM usage. Development of HBPM devices capable of measuring nocturnal BP along with other information and communication technology-based strategies are key developments in the widespread implementation of anticipation medicine strategies to detect and prevent cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension. Region-wide differences in hypertension prevalence, control, and management practices in Asia highlight the importance of information sharing to facilitate best practices.

Left ventricular hypertrophy in isolated and dual masked hypertension

Masked hypertension (MH) is defined as normal office blood pressure (BP) and elevated ambulatory BP (ABP) or home BP or both. This study assessed the association of MH (ie, isolated home, isolated ABP and dual MH) with echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The present analysis of the PAMELA study included 1087 untreated and treated participants with normal office BP and a measurable LV mass (LVM). A total of 193 individuals (17.7%) had any MH (ie, normal office BP, elevated ABP or home BP or both), 48 had dual MH (25%), 62 isolated ambulatory MH (32%), and 83 isolated home MH (43%). Average LVM indexed to body surface area was superimposable in the three MH phenotypes (being the largest difference between groups <3 g/m² ) and significantly higher than in true normotensives. This was also for the LVH prevalence that varied across the MH subgroups in a narrow range (from 8.3% to 10.8%). In conclusion, individuals from the general population with isolated MH, in which either home or ABP was elevated, exhibited an increased risk of LVH similar to that entailed by dual MH. Our findings add the notion both home and ABP measurements are useful to more accurately assess the risk of LVH associated with MH in the community.

Autonomic dysregulation and phenobarbital in patients with masked primary hypertension

Introduction

Primary hypertension can be masked and be responsible of a severe impact on the target bodies. The purpose of this study was to see if Phenobarbital at low dose is able to decrease the sympathetic hyperactivity assessed by cardiovascular autonomic reflexes in patients with masked hypertension.

Materials and methods

This prospective study was conducted on a total of 91 patients with masked hypertension (average age 52.1 ± 10.3 years old). The cardiovascular autonomic tests performed in this group, before and after 3 months of daily oral administration of Phenobarbital, included deep breathing, hand-grip, mental stress and orthostatic tests. Statistical analysis was done using the Student's t-test, Univariate and Multivariate logistic regression analysis; p is significant if < 0.05.

Results

Cardiovascular autonomic reflexes responses before and after 3 months of Phenobarbital oral administration were as follows: Vagal response (XDB) obtained on deep breathing test was of 32.6 ± 5.4% VS 30.4 ± 6.1%, (p = 0.08), alpha peripheral sympathetic response (alpha SP) obtained on hand grip test was of 35.6 ± 8.7% VS 12.0 ± 2.5%, (p < 0.001), alpha central sympathetic response (alpha SC), beta central sympathetic response (beta SC) obtained during mental stress were of respectively 29.3 ± 9.2% VS 11.8 ± 2.4%, (p < 0.001) and 11.0 ± 5.3% VS 10.4 ± 6.1%, (p = 0.2), alpha peripheral adrenergic sympathetic (alpha PAS) obtained during orthostatic test was of 25.3 ± 6.0% VS 13.0 ± 3.4%, (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that Phenobarbital at low dose may have an anti-sympathetic effect in patients with masked hypertension.

Left ventricular mass and incident out-of-office hypertension in a general population

AIM

Findings regarding the association of left ventricular mass (LVM) and new-onset hypertension are based on blood pressure measured in the office. We sought to assess the value of LVM in predicting in-office and out-of-office incident hypertension in members of the general population enrolled in the Pressioni Monitorate E Loro Associazioni study.

METHODS

The study included participants with normal office (n = 792), home (n = 714) and 24-h (n = 825) ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) at baseline evaluation who had a readable echocardiogram at entry and at the end of follow-up. Each normotensive group was divided into quartiles of LVM indexed (LVMI) to height.

RESULTS

Over a follow-up of 148 months cumulative incidence of new office, home and 24-h ABP hypertension were 35.9, 30.7 and 36.1%, respectively. In fully adjusted models (including age, sex, BMI change during follow-up, baseline serum glucose, creatinine, total cholesterol office, home and 24-h SBP and DBP). higher LVMI values (i.e. the highest vs. the lowest quartile) were independently associated with an increased risk of home [odds ratio (OR) = 2.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21-3.77, P = 0.008] and 24-h ABP hypertension (OR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.05-2.76, P = 0.03). This was not the case for new-onset office hypertension (OR = 1.61, 95% CI 0.94-2.74, P = 0.07).

CONCLUSION

Our study provides the first evidence that in normotensive individuals the magnitude of LVMI is independently associated with the risk of incident out-of-office hypertension.

Sex differences in masked hypertension: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association of sex with masked hypertension, defined by out-of-clinic hypertension based on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) among adults without hypertension based on blood pressure (BP) measured in the clinic, after adjusting for potential confounders.

METHODS

We evaluated sex differences in the prevalence of masked hypertension and the difference between awake, or alternatively 24-h, ambulatory BP and clinic BP using multivariable adjusted models among 658 participants who underwent 24-h ABPM and had clinic SBP/DBP less than 140/90 mmHg during the Year 30 Exam of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study.

RESULTS

The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of the participants was 54.8 ± 3.7 years, 58.4% were women, and 58.2% were black. The prevalence of any masked hypertension was 37.5% among women and 60.6% among men. In a model including adjustment for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, antihypertensive medication, and clinic BP, the prevalence ratios (95% confidence intervals) comparing men versus women were 1.39 (1.18-1.63) for any masked hypertension, and 1.60 (1.28-1.99), 1.71 (1.36-2.15), and 1.40 (1.13-1.73) for masked awake, 24-h and asleep hypertension, respectively. In a fully adjusted model, the differences between mean awake ambulatory BP and clinic BP were 2.75 [standard error (SE) 0.92] mmHg higher for SBP and 3.61 (SE 0.58) mmHg higher for DBP among men compared with women.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of masked hypertension on ABPM was high in both men and women. Male sex was an independent predictor of masked hypertension.