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.

Journal of Hypertension
|January 10, 2022
PubMed

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.
Abstract

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