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Determinants of masked hypertension in hypertensive patients treated in a primary care setting

A Andalib1, S Akhtari, R Rigal

  • 1Montreal Heart Institute Coordinating Centre (MHICC), Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Internal Medicine Journal
|December 2, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Masked hypertension (MH), where home blood pressure is high but office readings are normal, affects nearly one in five hypertensive patients. This condition is linked to cardiovascular risks and other factors like diabetes and obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Hypertension Management
  • Primary Care Research

Background:

  • Masked hypertension (MH) presents cardiovascular risks comparable to uncontrolled hypertension.
  • Understanding MH prevalence is crucial for effective hypertension management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with masked hypertension (MH).
  • Study conducted in a Canadian primary care setting among patients treated for hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • 5636 hypertensive patients underwent office blood pressure (OBP) and home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) measurements.
  • MH defined by specific OBP and HBPM thresholds, differing for diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Main Results:

  • Overall, 19.6% of the study population had MH.
  • MH was found in 34.3% of non-diabetic patients and 62.3% of diabetic patients with controlled OBP.
  • In non-diabetics with controlled OBP, MH determinants included older age, male sex, higher BMI, and higher OBP.

Conclusions:

  • Masked hypertension (MH) affects a significant portion of hypertensive patients, particularly those with controlled office blood pressure.
  • MH is associated with cardiovascular risk factors including diabetes, male sex, older age, and obesity.
Abstract

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