The assessment of relationship between left ventricular geometry and microvolt T-wave alternans in sustained hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH) predicts increased mortality in part due to an elevated incidence of sudden cardiac death in hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation of microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) with different LV geometric patterns in patient with sustained hypertension. METHODS: This study consisted of 311 consecutive patients with sustained hypertension who were divided into four groups according to LV geometrical patterns. 90 patients were in the normal geometry group (NGG) [mean age 49.6 ± 7.8 years; 60 males (66.7%)], 99 patients were in the concentric remodeling group (CRG) [mean age 50.9 ± 6.6 years; 50 males (50.6%)], 63 patients were in the concentric hypertrophy group (CHG) [mean age 51.6 ± 7.3 years; 32 males (50.7%)] and 58 patients were in the eccentric hypertrophy group (EHG) [mean age 51.6 ± 9.0 years; 30 males (51.7%)]. Physical examination, laboratory work-up, office blood pressure measurement, transthoracic echocardiography and MTWA measurements were performed on all participants. RESULTS: MTWA positivity was significantly higher in EHG and CHG as compared to CRG and NGG (p < 0.001). Left ventricle mass index (LVMI), LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), LV end-systolic diameter (LVESD), interventricular septum diameter (IVSd), posterior wall diameter (PWd) and office systolic blood pressure (SBP) were found to be significantly positively correlated with MTWA (all p-values < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that increased LVMI is associated with an elevated MTWA positivity in sustained hypertensives. Moreover, clinically significant LV geometric patterns including both concentric and eccentric hypertrophy are related with a raised MTWA positivity, which may lead to particular predilection to life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in sustained hypertension.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Phenotypes, Arterial Stiffness And Cardiac Remodelling.

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. We investigated this issue in the participants to the Pressioni Monitorate E Loro Associazioni (PAMELA) study. METHODS: The 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 organ damage to optimize the identification and clinical management of SH in the general population.

Impact of sustained hypertension on new cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes: KAMOGAWA-HBP study.

We have previously shown that masked hypertension (MH) and sustained hypertension (SH) contribute to the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Although the risk of target organ damage and cardiovascular events in MH and SH is significantly higher than that in normotension and white coat hypertension, the role of MH or SH in cardiovascular events has never been reported in studies specific to diabetic patients. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to determine whether blood pressure control status contributes to the development of new cardiovascular events. A longitudinal study of 1082 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no history of cardiovascular events was conducted. Patients were instructed to have their blood pressure measured three times, every morning and evening, for 14 consecutive days. Hypertension status was classified into four groups based on the systolic blood pressure measurements in the clinic and at home. The primary endpoint was the first cardiovascular event. After a median follow-up of 7.0 (interquartile range, 4.0-9.0) years, 119 patients developed cardiovascular events. The hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for the risk of developing cardiovascular events was significantly higher in the SH group than in the controlled blood pressure group (1.63 [1.02-2.59]). SH is a useful predictor of cardiovascular events. Both at home and in the clinic, blood pressure monitoring should be assessed in routine clinical practice to predict future cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Waist-to-height-ratio is associated with sustained hypertension in children and adolescents with high office blood pressure.

Background: Waist-to-height-ratio (WHtR) has been proposed as another indicator for cardiometabolic risk factors including hypertension. Normally, hypertension can be diagnosed in the office setting by detecting high blood pressure for three occasions. However, patients with high office blood pressure may not exhibit high blood pressure outside the office. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is a procedure to measure blood pressure over 24-h. Sustained hypertension is characterized as hypertension detected by both office measurement and ABPM. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of WHtR in the diagnosis of sustained hypertension in patients with high office blood pressure. Materials and methods: Demographic data, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference were retrospectively reviewed in children and adolescents who underwent ABPM due to persistently high office blood pressure. Patients were separated into two groups: a sustained hypertension group and a normal ABPM group. BMI was adjusted to z-score using the WHO Anthroplus software. WHtR was calculated by the formula: waist circumference (cm)/height (m). The performances of different parameters were analyzed using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and multivariate logistic regression. Results: Sixty patients (63% male) with a mean age of 12.9 ± 3.7 years had persistently high office blood pressure. Twenty-nine (48.3%) had high ambulatory blood pressure parameters so-called "sustained hypertension." The sustained hypertension group had a higher mean BMI z-score (2.32 vs. 1.31, p = 0.01) and a higher mean WHtR (57.7 vs. 49.2 cm/m, p < 0.001) than those of the normal ABPM group. For the diagnosis of sustained hypertension, the ROC analysis revealed that WHtR had a greater area under the ROC curve (AUC) than that of BMI z-score (0.772 vs. 0.723). WHtR remained associated with sustained hypertension (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.022-1.408, p = 0.026) after adjusting for age, gender, and BMI z-score. Conclusions: Apart from being a more user-friendly metric, WHtR tended to outperform BMI z-score in predicting sustained hypertension in children and adolescents with persistently high office blood pressure.

Prevalence of Hypertension among Children and Adolescents in India: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review to provide pooled estimates of the prevalence of hypertension among children aged less than 18 y in India. METHODS: Three electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science) were searched from inception to August 2020 by using terms related to hypertension, children, prevalence, and India. Studies reporting the prevalence of hypertension, defined based on at least three measurements, were included. Two investigators independently performed the literature search, study selection, and data extraction for this review. Random effect meta-analysis was used to provide pooled estimates of hypertension. RESULTS: A total of 64 studies were included in this systematic review. The pooled prevalence was 7% (95% CI: 6%-8%) for hypertension, 4% (95% CI: 3%-4.1%) for sustained hypertension and 10% (95% CI: 8%-13%) for prehypertension. While there was no significant difference in hypertension across five different regions of the country, an upward rising trend was observed after the year 2005. Urban children had a higher prevalence of hypertension as compared to their rural counterparts. Children with obesity had a significantly high prevalence of hypertension (29%) than normal-weight children (7%). CONCLUSION: In this review, it was observed that considerable proportions (7%) of school going children are hypertensive in India. Prevalence was higher in urban and overweight children. This study highlights that hypertension is a public health problem in India; hence, there is a need to implement public health measures to prevent hypertension.

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.

Blood pressure and heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity in white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension.

We investigated blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension in untreated patients (n = 645). Normotension and white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension were defined according to the clinic (cutoff 140/90 mmHg) and 24-h ambulatory (130/80 mmHg) BPs. The Finometer device recorded beat-to-beat finger BP and electrocardiograms in the supine and standing positions for the computation of frequency-domain power-spectral BP and heart rate variability indexes and BRS. In multivariate analysis, BP variability indexes in the supine position differed significantly (P < 0.0001) for both low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components and the LF/HF ratio, with the lowest LF and HF power and highest LF/HF ratio in white-coat hypertension (n = 28), the highest LF and HF power and lowest LF/HF ratio in sustained hypertension (n = 198), and intermediate values in normotension (n = 189) and masked hypertension (n = 230). These differences diminished in the standing position, being significant (P < 0.0001) only for the LF component variability. The LF/HF ratio in BP in the supine position decreased with advancing age in normotension and sustained hypertension (P ≤ 0.03) but not white-coat or masked hypertension (P ≥ 0.12). For heart rate variability, a significant difference was observed only for the LF component in the supine position (P = 0.0005), which was lowest in white-coat hypertension. BRS in masked and sustained hypertension was significantly (P ≤ 0.0001) lower than that in normotension in both supine and standing positions and decreased with advancing age (P ≤ 0.0001). In conclusion, masked, but not white-coat, hypertension showed similar patterns of, but slightly less severe, changes in BP and heart rate variability and BRS to sustained hypertension.

Effects of white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension on coronary artery stenosis and cardiac arrhythmia.

This study aimed to investigate whether hypertension phenotypes such as white-coat hypertension (WCHT), diagnosed with the addition of nighttime blood pressure (BP) criteria, are related to coronary artery stenosis (CAS) and cardiac arrhythmia. In this cross-sectional observational study, 844 participants who did not use antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, and antiplatelet drugs were selected. The subjects were divided into normotensive (NT), WCHT, masked hypertension (MHT), and sustained hypertension (SHT) groups based on the results of clinic BP measurement and ambulatory BP monitoring. Coronary angiography and ambulatory electrocardiography were performed to determine the participants' CAS and cardiac arrhythmia status. Coronary angiography revealed 556 patients with CAS and 288 participants with normal coronary arteries. The chi-squared test showed that the incidence of CAS was higher in the MHT and SHT groups than in the NT group, while no significant change was found in the WCHT group (P = 0.003, P < 0.001, P = 0.119). The logarithm of the Gensini score was used to compare the degree of CAS between the groups. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the degree of CAS was higher in the WCHT, MHT, and SHT groups than in the NT group (P < 0.05). The incidences of frequent atrial premature beats, atrial tachycardia, and ventricular cardiac arrhythmia were significantly higher in the WCHT and SHT groups than in the NT group, while only ventricular cardiac arrhythmia changes were observed in the MHT group. This study found that hypertension phenotypes such as WCHT were closely associated with CAS and cardiac arrhythmia.

Association of thyroid function with white coat hypertension and sustained hypertension.

This study aimed to explore the relationship of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels with hypertension subtypes. 1056 euthyroid adults were included as research samples. They underwent measurement of clinic blood pressure and 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Then, they were divided into normotension (NT), white coat hypertension (WCH), masked hypertension (MHT), and sustained hypertension (SHT) groups. The 24-hours dynamic electrocardiogram was performed to analyze the heart rate variability (HRV), so as to reflect the cardiac autonomic function. The relationship between hypertension subtypes, thyroid function, and HRV was analyzed. The TSH concentration was significantly higher in the SHT group than in the NT group (P = 0.001). The FT3 concentration was higher in the SHT group than in the NT and MHT groups (P = 0.013, P = 0.008), while the FT4 concentration was significantly higher in the WCH group than in the NT group (P = 0.002). The changes in HRV were observed between the SHT, WCH, and MHT groups and the NT groups, as well as between the SHT and the MHT groups. The multiple linear regression analysis also showed that FT3, HRV (RMSSD and PNN50), and blood pressure levels linearly correlated with one another (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the linear regression analysis showed a linear negative correlation between FT4 and HRV (SDANN) in the WCH + NT group (P = 0.001). Thyroid function was closely related to hypertension subtypes such as WCH probably due to the changes in the cardiac autonomic function.

Are the cardiovascular outcomes of participants with white-coat hypertension poor compared to those of participants with normotension? A systemic review and meta-analysis.

The prognostic value of white-coat hypertension (WCH) remains controversial. We undertook a quantitative literature review to assess the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in untreated participants with WCH compared to that in participants with normotension. We searched databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library and the Ichu-Shi Web Japanese database) for peer-reviewed articles published until December 23, 2017 reporting studies evaluating the risk of cardiovascular outcomes in participants with WCH compared to that in participants with normotension. WCH was defined by having hypertension according to the conventional office blood pressure (BP) and being in the normotensive range (definitions of hypertension and normotension differed according to studies) for out-of-office BP measured at home or in an ambulatory setting. In total, 11 studies were included in the meta-analysis, which assessed the composite outcomes of morbidity and mortality on cardiovascular, stroke, and cardiac diseases, all-cause mortality, and deterioration to sustained hypertension in 8 (n = 11971), 2 (n = 6252), 2 (n = 6252), 5 (n = 10611), and 3 (n = 1722) studies, respectively. The risks for cardiovascular outcome and deterioration to sustained hypertension were significantly higher in WCH participants, with relative risks (95% confidence intervals) of 1.33 (1.10-1.62) and 2.85 (2.32-3.49), respectively, than in participants with normotension. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the risk for stroke, cardiac outcomes or all-cause mortality. Our study suggests the importance of accurate and appropriate evaluation of WCH by utilizing out-of-office BP monitoring and the necessity for careful long-term follow-up of participants with WCH.

Prevalence and clinical outcomes of white-coat and masked hypertension: Analysis of a large ambulatory blood pressure database.

The aim of this study was to analyze prevalence and clinical outcomes of the following clinical conditions: normotension (NT; clinic BP < 140/90 mm Hg; 24-hour BP < 130/80 mm Hg), white-coat hypertension (WCHT; clinic BP ≥ 140 and/or ≥90 mm Hg; 24-hour BP < 130/80 mm Hg), masked hypertension (MHT; clinic BP < 140/90 mm Hg; 24-hour BP ≥ 130 and/or ≥80 mm Hg), and sustained hypertension (SHT; clinic BP ≥ 140 and/or ≥90 mm Hg; 24-hour BP ≥ 130 and/or ≥80 mm Hg) in a large cohort of adult untreated individuals. Systematic research throughout the medical database of Regione Lazio (Italy) was performed to estimate incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and hospitalizations for HT and heart failure (HF). Among a total study sample of 2209 outpatients, 377 (17.1%) had NT, 351 (15.9%) had WCHT, 149 (6.7%) had MHT, and 1332 had (60.3%) SHT. During an average follow-up of 120.1 ± 73.9 months, WCHT was associated with increased risk of hospitalization for HT (OR 95% CI: 1.927 [1.233-3.013]; P = .04) and HF (OR 95% CI: 3.449 [1.321-9.007]; P = .011). MHT was associated with an increased risk of MI (OR 95% CI: 5.062 [2.218-11.550]; P < .001), hospitalization for HT (OR 95% CI: 2.553 [1.446-4.508]; P = .001), and for HF (OR 95% CI: 4.214 [1.449-12.249]; P = .008). These effects remained statistically significant event after corrections for confounding factors including age, BMI, gender, smoking, dyslipidaemia, diabetes, and presence of antihypertensive therapies.

Hipertensión matinal y comportamiento non-dipper en embarazadas con hipertensión de guardapolvo blanco / Morning Hypertension and Non-dipper Behavior in Pregnant Women with White Coat Syndrome

Introducción: La hipertensión de guardapolvo blanco (HGB) es común en el embarazo, aunque su evolución clínica durante la gestación se conoce poco. La hipertensión matinal y el comportamiento non-dipper, medidos por monitoreo ambulatorio de la presión arterial (MAPA), se asocian con mayor riesgo de eventos cardiovasculares; no obstante ello, son escasos los estudios en la gestación. Objetivos: El objetivo primario del estudio fue evaluar la hipertensión matinal y el comportamiento non-dipper en embarazadas con HGB versus un grupo control de normotensas. Se planteó como objetivo secundario evaluar si la HGB, la hipertensión matinal y el comportamiento non-dipper en el segundo trimestre del embarazo se relacionan con mayor hipertensión sostenida en el tercer trimestre. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo en el que se incluyeron 95 primigestas en la semana 20 de gestación, 50 con HGB y 45 normotensas como grupo control. Se registraron laboratorio de rutina, presión de consultorio y MAPA en la inclusión y a las 32 semanas de gestación. La hipertensión matinal y el comportamiento non-dipper se evaluaron por MAPA. Resultados: La edad, la glucemia y la presión diurna y nocturna por MAPA fueron similares en el examen basal en ambos grupos. Por el contrario, las pacientes con HGB presentaron valores significativamente superiores de hipertensión matinal y comportamiento non-dipper, lo cual se asoció en forma independiente con hipertensión sostenida en el tercer trimestre del embarazo. Conclusiones: Las gestantes con HGB en la semana 20 de embarazo presentaron mayor hipertensión matinal y comportamiento non-dipper y evolucionaron con más frecuencia a hipertensión sostenida que el grupo control de normotensas.

Background: White coat syndrome (WCS) is common during pregnancy, although little is known about its clinical outcome during gestation. Morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior, measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), are associated with greater risk of cardiovascular events. However, there are few studies during pregnancy. Objectives: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior in pregnant women with WCS versus a control normotensive group. A secondary objective was to evaluate whether WCS, morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior in the second trimester of pregnancy were associated with greater hypertension in the third trimester. Methods: This prospective study included 95 primiparae in the 20th week of gestation, 50 with WCS and 45 as normotensive control group. Routine lab tests, office blood pressure and ABPM at inclusion and in the 32th week of gestation were recorded. Morning hypertension and the non-dipper behavior were evaluated by ABPM. Results: Age, and baseline blood glucose level and daytime and nighttime blood pressure by ABPM were similar in both groups. Conversely, patients presenting WCS had significantly higher values of morning hypertension and non-dipper behavior, which were independently associated with sustained hypertension in the third trimester of pregnancy. Conclusions: Pregnant women with WCS in the 20th week of gestation presented greater morning hypertension and non-dipper behavior and progressed more frequently to sustained hypertension than the control normotensive group.