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Published on: May 3, 2018
White-coat hypertension/effect is associated with higher arterial stiffness and stroke events
Alec Saunders1, Gani N Nuredini1, Frances A Kirkham2
1Department of Medicine, Brighton and Sussex Medical School.
Insights
White-coat hypertension/effect (WCH/E) is linked to increased cardiovascular risk markers and a higher prevalence of lacunar stroke in patients with transient ischemic attack or stroke. This suggests WCH/E may indicate adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- The cardiovascular risk profile associated with white-coat hypertension/effect (WCH/E) is not fully understood.
- WCH/E is characterized by elevated clinic blood pressure readings with normal ambulatory blood pressure.
- Understanding WCH/E's impact is crucial for managing patients with cerebrovascular events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between WCH/E and cardiovascular risk markers.
- To determine the association between WCH/E and cerebrovascular events, specifically lacunar stroke and transient ischemic attack.
- To clarify the clinical significance of WCH/E in patients with recent stroke or TIA.
Main Methods:
- Sub-group analysis of the Arterial Stiffness In lacunar Stroke and Transient ischemic attack (ASIST) study.
- Inclusion of patients aged ≥40 years with recent lacunar stroke or TIA.
- Comparison of patients with WCH/E (clinic BP ≥140/90 mmHg, ambulatory BP <135/85 mmHg) versus those with target blood pressure (clinic BP <140/90 mmHg, ambulatory BP <135/85 mmHg).
Main Results:
- Patients with WCH/E were older with higher BMI, central systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and arterial stiffness (measured by pulse wave velocity and cardio-ankle vascular index).
- WCH/E showed an independent association with increased arterial stiffness.
- Lacunar strokes were more prevalent in the WCH/E group, with individuals being significantly more likely to have had a lacunar stroke than a transient ischemic attack.
Conclusions:
- In patients with lacunar stroke and TIA, WCH/E is associated with elevated cardiovascular risk markers.
- WCH/E is linked to a higher prevalence of lacunar stroke.
- These findings suggest that WCH/E represents an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in this patient cohort.
Objectives:
The risk profile of white-coat hypertension/effect (WCH/E) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between WCH/E, markers of cardiovascular risk and cerebrovascular events.
Methods:
This is a sub-group analysis of The Arterial Stiffness In lacunar Stroke and Transient ischemic attack (ASIST) study, which recruited 96 patients aged at least 40 years old with a diagnosis of transient ischemic attack or lacunar stroke in the preceding 14 days. Thirty-two patients with target blood pressure (clinic blood pressure <140/90 mmHg and daytime ambulatory blood pressure <135/85 mmHg) and 30 patients with WCH/E (clinic blood pressure ≥140/90 mmHg and daytime ambulatory blood pressure <135/85 mmHg) were included in the analysis.
Results:
Patients with WCH/E were older and had a higher BMI. Central SBP (145 ± 13 vs. 118 ± 8 mmHg, P < 0.001) and DBP (82 ± 8 vs. 76 ± 7 mmHg, P = 0.004) were higher in those with WCH/E. They also had higher arterial stiffness measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (11.9 ± 3.0 vs. 9.6 ± 2.3 m/s, P = 0.002) and cardio-ankle vascular index (10.3 ± 1.3 vs. 9.4 ± 1.7, P = 0.027). Regression analysis showed an independent relationship between WCH/E and both measures of arterial stiffness. Lacunar strokes were more prevalent in those with WCH/E (47 vs. 22%, P = 0.039) and individuals in this group were more likely to have had a lacunar stroke than a transient ischemic attack (odds ratio 9.6, 95% CI 1.5-62.6, P = 0.02).
Conclusion:
In this cohort of patients with lacunar stroke and transient ischemic attack, WCH/E was associated with elevated markers of cardiovascular risk and a higher prevalence of lacunar stroke. These results suggest that WCH/E is associated with adverse cardiovascular risk.
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