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Updated: May 11, 2026

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
09:33

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology

Published on: February 7, 2015

White-coat and masked hypertension are associated with carotid atherosclerosis in a general population: the Hisayama

Masayo Fukuhara1, Hisatomi Arima, Toshiharu Ninomiya

  • 1Department of Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka 812-8582, Japan.

Stroke
|May 4, 2013
PubMed

Insights

White-coat hypertension (WCHT), masked hypertension (MHT), and sustained hypertension (SHT) are linked to carotid atherosclerosis. This study in Japanese adults shows all hypertension types increase carotid artery disease risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Hypertension Research
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Blood pressure status is categorized into normotension, white-coat hypertension (WCHT), masked hypertension (MHT), and sustained hypertension (SHT) using combined clinic and home measurements.
  • While MHT and SHT clearly impact arterial disease, the influence of WCHT remains less understood.
  • Investigating the association between different hypertension types and carotid atherosclerosis is crucial for understanding cardiovascular risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between WCHT, MHT, and SHT with carotid atherosclerosis.
  • To assess these associations within a general Japanese population aged 40 years and older.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional survey of 2915 Japanese adults (≥ 40 years) was conducted.
  • Hypertension categories were defined based on clinic blood pressure (CBP) and home blood pressure (HBP) readings.
  • Carotid intima-media thickness and stenosis were measured using automated systems.

Main Results:

  • Subjects with WCHT (6.9%), MHT (21.9%), and SHT (24.1%) showed significantly higher mean carotid intima-media thickness compared to normotensive individuals (47.1%).
  • All hypertension types were associated with an increased likelihood of carotid stenosis (≥30% diameter reduction).
  • These associations persisted even after adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusions:

  • White-coat hypertension, masked hypertension, and sustained hypertension are all associated with carotid atherosclerosis.
  • The findings highlight the importance of considering all forms of hypertension in cardiovascular risk assessment.
  • These results are specific to the general Japanese population studied.
Abstract

Keywords:
atherosclerosisclinic blood pressurehome blood pressureintima-media thicknessmasked hypertensionwhite-coat hypertension

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