Prevalence and Characteristics of Isolated Nocturnal Hypertension and Masked Nocturnal Hypertension in a Tertiary Hospital in the City of Buenos Aires.

Isolated nocturnal hypertension (INH) and masked nocturnal hypertension (MNH) increase cardiovascular risk. Their prevalence and characteristics are not clearly established and seem to differ among populations. We aimed to determine the prevalence and associated characteristics of INH and MNH in a tertiary hospital in the city of Buenos Aires. We included 958 hypertensive patients ≥ 18 years who underwent an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) between October and November 2022, as prescribed by their treating physician to diagnose or to assess hypertension control. INH was defined as nighttime BP ≥ 120 mmHg systolic or ≥70 diastolic in the presence of normal daytime BP (<135/85 mmHg regardless of office BP; MNH was defined as the presence of INH with office BP < 140/90 mmHg). Variables associated with INH and MNH were analyzed. The prevalences of INH and MNH were 15.7% (95% CI 13.5-18.2%) and 9.7 (95% CI 7.9-11.8%), respectively. Age, male sex, and ambulatory heart rate were positively associated with INH, whereas office BP, total cholesterol, and smoking habits showed a negative association. In turn, diabetes and nighttime heart rate were positively associated with MNH. In conclusion, INH and MNH are frequent entities, and determination of clinical characteristics such as those detected in this study is critical since this might contribute to a more appropriate use of resources.

Prognostic value of home blood pressure monitoring in patients under antihypertensive treatment.

The prognostic value of home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has been investigated in several studies in the general population, demonstrating its independent association with cardiovascular events. However, in the case of treated hypertensive subjects, evidence is controversial. Our purpose was to evaluate the prognostic value of HBPM in this population. Medicated hypertensive patients who performed a 4-day HBPM (Omron® HEM-705CP-II) between 2008 and 2015 were followed up for a median of 5.9 years, registering the occurrence of a composite primary outcome of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. Cox regression models were used to analyze the prognostic value of HBPM, considering 4-day measurements, discarding the first day, and analyzing morning, afternoon and evening periods separately. We included 1582 patients in the analysis (33.4% men, median age 70.8 years, on an average of 2.1 antihypertensive drugs). During follow-up, 273 events occurred. HBPM was significantly associated with cardiovascular events in all five scenarios in the unadjusted models. When adjusting for office BP and other cardiovascular risk factors, the association remained marginally significant for the 4-day period, discarding first-day measurements HBPM (HR 1.04 [95% CI 1-1.1] and 1.04 [95% CI 1-1.1], respectively) and statistically significant for all separate periods of measurement: HR 1.32 (95% CI 1.01-1.72); 1.33 (95% CI 1.02-1.72); and 1.30 (95% CI 1.01-1.67), for morning, afternoon and evening, respectively. When analyzing separately fatal and non-fatal events, statistical significance was held for the former only. In conclusion, HBPM is an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in hypertensives under treatment.

Risk Stratification by Cross-Classification of Central and Brachial Systolic Blood Pressure.

BACKGROUND: Whether cardiovascular risk is more tightly associated with central (cSBP) than brachial (bSBP) systolic pressure remains debated, because of their close correlation and uncertain thresholds to differentiate cSBP into normotension versus hypertension. METHODS: In a person-level meta-analysis of the International Database of Central Arterial Properties for Risk Stratification (n=5576; 54.1% women; mean age 54.2 years), outcome-driven thresholds for cSBP were determined and whether the cross-classification of cSBP and bSBP improved risk stratification was explored. cSBP was tonometrically estimated from the radial pulse wave using SphygmoCor software. RESULTS: Over 4.1 years (median), 255 composite cardiovascular end points occurred. In multivariable bootstrapped analyses, cSBP thresholds (in mm Hg) of 110.5 (95% CI, 109.1-111.8), 120.2 (119.4-121.0), 130.0 (129.6-130.3), and 149.5 (148.4-150.5) generated 5-year cardiovascular risks equivalent to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association bSBP thresholds of 120, 130, 140, and 160. Applying 120/130 mm Hg as cSBP/bSBP thresholds delineated concordant central and brachial normotension (43.1%) and hypertension (48.2%) versus isolated brachial hypertension (5.0%) and isolated central hypertension (3.7%). With concordant normotension as reference, the multivariable hazard ratios for the cardiovascular end point were 1.30 (95% CI, 0.58-2.94) for isolated brachial hypertension, 2.28 (1.21-4.30) for isolated central hypertension, and 2.02 (1.41-2.91) for concordant hypertension. The increased cardiovascular risk associated with isolated central and concordant hypertension was paralleled by cerebrovascular end points with hazard ratios of 3.71 (1.37-10.06) and 2.60 (1.35-5.00), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Irrespective of the brachial blood pressure status, central hypertension increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk indicating the importance of controlling central hypertension.

White Coat Uncontrolled Hypertension in Teleconsultation: A New and Frequent Entity.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular risk seems not to be greater in patients with white coat uncontrolled hypertension (WUCH) than in patients with sustained blood pressure (BP) control. Therefore, its detection is important to avoid overtreatment. The COVID-19 pandemic determined a massive migration of hypertension consultations from the face-to-face modality to teleconsultations, and it is unknown whether WUCH exists in this context. AIM: We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of WUCH through home BP monitoring (HBPM) in treated hypertensive patients evaluated by teleconsultation. METHODS: We included treated hypertensive patients that owned a digital BP monitor. During teleconsultation, patients were asked to perform two BP measurements and then a 7-day HBPM, using the same device. Patients were classified as having WUCH if BP was ≥ 140 and/or 90 mmHg in teleconsultation and < 135/85 mmHg on HBPM. The prevalence of WUCH and its 95% confidence interval were estimated. One-way ANOVA, the Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test were used to compare the characteristics of these patients with the other groups. RESULTS: We included 341 patients (45.2% male, mean age 62.3 years). The prevalence of WUCH was 33.1% (95% CI 28.3-38.3%). Significant differences were found in terms of age, the number of antihypertensive drugs and the use of calcium channel blockers, all lower in the WUCH group as compared with the groups with elevated BP on HBPM. CONCLUSION: WUCH exists in teleconsultation and is very frequent. It can be easily detected though HBPM, thus avoiding overmedication, and its potential impact on side-effects and health costs.

The International Database of Central Arterial Properties for Risk Stratification: Research Objectives and Baseline Characteristics of Participants.

OBJECTIVE: To address to what extent central hemodynamic measurements, improve risk stratification, and determine outcome-based diagnostic thresholds, we constructed the International Database of Central Arterial Properties for Risk Stratification (IDCARS), allowing a participant-level meta-analysis. The purpose of this article was to describe the characteristics of IDCARS participants and to highlight research perspectives. METHODS: Longitudinal or cross-sectional cohort studies with central blood pressure measured with the SphygmoCor devices and software were included. RESULTS: The database included 10,930 subjects (54.8% women; median age 46.0 years) from 13 studies in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. The prevalence of office hypertension was 4,446 (40.1%), of which 2,713 (61.0%) were treated, and of diabetes mellitus was 629 (5.8%). The peripheral and central systolic/diastolic blood pressure averaged 129.5/78.7 mm Hg and 118.2/79.7 mm Hg, respectively. Mean aortic pulse wave velocity was 7.3 m per seconds. Among 6,871 participants enrolled in 9 longitudinal studies, the median follow-up was 4.2 years (5th-95th percentile interval, 1.3-12.2 years). During 38,957 person-years of follow-up, 339 participants experienced a composite cardiovascular event and 212 died, 67 of cardiovascular disease. CONCLUSIONS: IDCARS will provide a unique opportunity to investigate hypotheses on central hemodynamic measurements that could not reliably be studied in individual studies. The results of these analyses might inform guidelines and be of help to clinicians involved in the management of patients with suspected or established hypertension.

Use of renin-angiotensin system inhibitors and clinical predictors of COVID-19 severity in a tertiary hospital in the city of Buenos Aires.

Information regarding predictors of a worse COVID-19 prognosis in the South American population is scarce. We aimed to determine whether the blockade of the renin-angiotensin system is associated with a worse clinical course of COVID-19, and to evaluate what clinical variables are associated with COVID severity in our population. We included adult subjects with rtPCR-confirmed COVID-19. The use of renin system inhibitors was defined according to its registration in the electronic medical record or the hospital pharmacy registry during the previous three months. Our endpoint was a composite of death or mechanical ventilation requirement. Patients were followed up until discharge or death. A multiple logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors of the composite endpoint. In all, we included 4930 COVID+ patients, the median age was 52 years, and 48.1% were male. The endpoint occurred in 488 patients (9.9%). In adjusted analysis, neither angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors nor angiotensin receptor blockers were associated with the outcome. Independent predictors of mortality and/or mechanical ventilation requirement were age, male sex, a history of diabetes and/or chronic kidney disease, smoking and dementia. To conclude, renin system inhibitors seem to be unrelated to COVID-19 severity, whereas prognosis is independently associated with age, male sex and comorbidities.

Prognostic value of masked uncontrolled apparent resistant hypertension detected through home blood pressure monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: Resistant hypertension carries a poor prognosis and current guidelines recommend the exclusion of the white-coat phenomenon for proper diagnosis. However, guidelines do not focus on patients treated with at least three drugs whose blood pressure (BP) is controlled at the office but elevated out of it. We aimed at determining whether this masked uncontrolled apparent resistant hypertension (MUCRH) detected through home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) has prognostic value for fatal and nonfatal events in these hypertensive patients. METHODS: Hypertensive patients treated with at least three drugs who performed a baseline HBPM between 2008 and 2015 were followed to register the occurrence of total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and fatal and nonfatal cardiac and cerebrovascular events. MUCRH was defined as office blood pressure less than 140/90 mmHg and home BP at least 135 and/or 85 mmHg. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were adjusted to determine the independent prognostic value of MUCRH for the events of interest. RESULTS: We included 470 patients, 35.5% male, mean age 71.9 years, and treated with 3.3 antihypertensive drugs on average. Among study population, 15.5% had MUCRH (33.3% when considering only patients with adequate BP control at the office). Median follow-up was 6.7 years. In multivariable models, MUCRH was an independent predictor for cardiovascular mortality and cerebrovascular events: hazard ratio 4.9 (95% CI 1.2-19.9, P = 0.03) and 5.1 (95% CI 1.5-16.9, P = 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: MUCRH is not rare and is independently associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The systematic monitoring of intensively treated individuals through HBPM would be useful for the detection of patients at increased risk of events.

Novel Indices of Home Blood Pressure Variability and Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage in Treated Hypertensive Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Although multiple home blood pressure variability (HBPV) indices have been proposed, the superiority of one over another is not clear in treated hypertensives. AIM: We evaluated the correlation between different indices of HBPV and hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) in this population and determined predictors of greater HBPV. METHODS: We included adult treated hypertensives who performed an HBP monitoring (duplicate sitting BP readings in the morning, afternoon, and evening for 4 days, Omron HEM-705CP-II), laboratory measurements, transthoracic echocardiogram and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity. We selected HBPV indices from three different calculation approaches: coefficient of variation (CoV), difference between maximum and minimum BP (MMD), and morning BP increase (MI), and evaluated their correlation with left ventricular mass index, relative wall thickness (RWT), ejection fraction, arterial stiffness and estimated glomerular filtration rate through a correlation matrix. For those variability indices significantly associated with HMOD, we constructed multiple linear regression models to determine independent predictors of HBPV. RESULTS: We included 204 patients, mean age 67.2 (± 13.8) years, 64% female. CoV and MMD for systolic BP showed the greatest correlation with HMOD. Factors independently associated both with CoV and MMD were: older age (b = 0.07; 95% CI 0.04-0.07; p < 0.001 and b = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.5; p < 0.001, respectively), history of stroke (b = 3.6; 95% CI 0.9-6.4; p = 0.01 and b = 25.7; 95% CI 10.1-41.2; p = 0.001, respectively), and body mass index [b = - 0.1; 95% CI - 0.2 to (- 0.02); p = 0.01 and b = - 0.5; 95% CI - 0.9 to (- 0.1); p = 0.01, respectively]. CONCLUSION: CoV and MMD showed the greatest association with HMOD in treated hypertensives. Older age, history of stroke and lower body mass index were easy-to-detect predictors.

Use of inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system in hypertensive patients and COVID-19 severity: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Controversy has arisen in the scientific community on whether the use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors in the context of COVID-19 would be beneficial or harmful. A meta-analysis of eligible studies comparing the occurrence of severe and fatal COVID-19 in infected hypertensive patients who were under treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) vs no treatment or other antihypertensives was conducted. METHODS: PubMed, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, medRxiv and bioRxiv were searched for relevant studies. Fixed-effects models or random-effects models were used depending on the heterogeneity between estimates. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: A total of eighteen studies with 17 311 patients were included. The use of RAS inhibitors was associated with a significant 16% decreased risk of the composite outcome (death, admission to intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation requirement or progression to severe or critical pneumonia): RR: 0.84 (95% CI: 0.73-0.95), P = .007, I2  = 65%. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: The results of this pooled analysis suggest that the use of ACEI/ARB does not worsen the prognosis of COVID-19, and could even be protective in hypertensive subjects. Hypertensive patients should continue these drugs even if they become infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Cardiovascular End Points and Mortality Are Not Closer Associated With Central Than Peripheral Pulsatile Blood Pressure Components.

Pulsatile blood pressure (BP) confers cardiovascular risk. Whether associations of cardiovascular end points are tighter for central systolic BP (cSBP) than peripheral systolic BP (pSBP) or central pulse pressure (cPP) than peripheral pulse pressure (pPP) is uncertain. Among 5608 participants (54.1% women; mean age, 54.2 years) enrolled in nine studies, median follow-up was 4.1 years. cSBP and cPP, estimated tonometrically from the radial waveform, averaged 123.7 and 42.5 mm Hg, and pSBP and pPP 134.1 and 53.9 mm Hg. The primary composite cardiovascular end point occurred in 255 participants (4.5%). Across fourths of the cPP distribution, rates increased exponentially (4.1, 5.0, 7.3, and 22.0 per 1000 person-years) with comparable estimates for cSBP, pSBP, and pPP. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios, expressing the risk per 1-SD increment in BP, were 1.50 (95% CI, 1.33-1.70) for cSBP, 1.36 (95% CI, 1.19-1.54) for cPP, 1.49 (95% CI, 1.33-1.67) for pSBP, and 1.34 (95% CI, 1.19-1.51) for pPP (P<0.001). Further adjustment of cSBP and cPP, respectively, for pSBP and pPP, and vice versa, removed the significance of all hazard ratios. Adding cSBP, cPP, pSBP, pPP to a base model including covariables increased the model fit (P<0.001) with generalized R2 increments ranging from 0.37% to 0.74% but adding a second BP to a model including already one did not. Analyses of the secondary end points, including total mortality (204 deaths), coronary end points (109) and strokes (89), and various sensitivity analyses produced consistent results. In conclusion, associations of the primary and secondary end points with SBP and pulse pressure were not stronger if BP was measured centrally compared with peripherally.

Displasia fibromuscular en la Argentina. Registro del grupo de trabajo de Hipertensión Secundaria de la Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial (SAHARA-DF): proyecto de protocolo y resultados preliminares / Fibromuscular dysplasia in Argentina. A registry from the Secondary Hypertension working group of the Argentine Society of Hypertension (SAHARA-DF): project protocol and preliminary results

En la Argentina no existen datos epidemiológicos sobre displasia fibromuscular. La realización de un registro nacional puede aportar información que conduzca a una actualización de los consensos y recomendaciones para un correcto diagnóstico, evaluación y tratamiento. El Registro Argentino de Displasia Fibromuscular (SAHARA-DF) inició su actividad de recopilación de datos en octubre de 2015. Al año 2019 se confirmaron 49 pacientes (44 mujeres, 38 hipertensos, edad 45,3 ± 17,2 años, 12 con presentación neurológica). Veintidós pacientes tuvieron lesiones vasculares en más de un sitio, a pesar del sesgo diagnóstico por falta de estudios complementarios en casi la mitad de los casos. El sitio afectado más frecuente fue el renovascular, seguido por el carotídeo y el ilíaco, y las lesiones multifocales fueron más frecuentes que las unifocales (35 versus 14, respectivamente). Se constató la presencia de aneurismas asociados en 13 casos y disección arterial en 4 casos. De las 22 angioplastias renales realizadas, 14 fueron con colocación de stent (endoprótesis). En este estudio preliminar de una población argentina se evidencia el carácter sistémico de la enfermedad y se plantea un llamado a actuar en cuanto a la necesidad de debatir el algoritmo diagnóstico y el método de tratamiento. (AU)

In Argentina there are no epidemiological data regarding fibromuscular dysplasia. Building a National Registry may provide information leading to updated consensus and recommendations for a correct diagnosis, assessment and treatment. Data gathering for the Argentine Registry of Fibromuscular Dysplasia (SAHARA-DF) was initiated in October 2015. By 2019, 49 patients were confirmed (44 women, 38 hypertensives, age 45.3 ± 17.2 years, 12 with a neurological presentation). Twenty-two patients had multi-site vascular lesions, in spite of a diagnosis bias due to lack of supporting studies in almost half of the cases. The renovascular site was the most affected, followed by the carotid and iliac sites, and multifocal lesions were more frequent than unifocal (35 versus 14, respectively). Associated aneurysms were found in 13 cases, and arterial dissection in 4. Twenty-two renal angioplasties were performed, 14 with stent placement. In this preliminary study of an Argentinian population, the systemic nature of the disease is evidenced, and a call for action arises regarding the need for discussing the diagnostic algorithm and treatment method. (AU)

Opposing Age-Related Trends in Absolute and Relative Risk of Adverse Health Outcomes Associated With Out-of-Office Blood Pressure.

Participant-level meta-analyses assessed the age-specific relevance of office blood pressure to cardiovascular complications, but this information is lacking for out-of-office blood pressure. At baseline, daytime ambulatory (n=12 624) or home (n=5297) blood pressure were measured in 17 921 participants (51.3% women; mean age, 54.2 years) from 17 population cohorts. Subsequently, mortality and cardiovascular events were recorded. Using multivariable Cox regression, floating absolute risk was computed across 4 age bands (≤60, 61-70, 71-80, and >80 years). Over 236 491 person-years, 3855 people died and 2942 cardiovascular events occurred. From levels as low as 110/65 mm Hg, risk log-linearly increased with higher out-of-office systolic/diastolic blood pressure. From the youngest to the oldest age group, rates expressed per 1000 person-years increased (P<0.001) from 4.4 (95% CI, 4.0-4.7) to 86.3 (76.1-96.5) for all-cause mortality and from 4.1 (3.9-4.6) to 59.8 (51.0-68.7) for cardiovascular events, whereas hazard ratios per 20-mm Hg increment in systolic out-of-office blood pressure decreased (P≤0.0033) from 1.42 (1.19-1.69) to 1.09 (1.05-1.12) and from 1.70 (1.51-1.92) to 1.12 (1.07-1.17), respectively. These age-related trends were similar for out-of-office diastolic pressure and were generally consistent in both sexes and across ethnicities. In conclusion, adverse outcomes were directly associated with out-of-office blood pressure in adults. At young age, the absolute risk associated with out-of-office blood pressure was low, but relative risk high, whereas with advancing age relative risk decreased and absolute risk increased. These observations highlight the need of a lifecourse approach for the management of hypertension.

Blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk profile in hypertensive patients under specialist care in Argentina: Results from the CHARTER study.

Worldwide, hypertension control rate is far from ideal. Some studies suggest that patients treated by specialists have a greater chance to achieve control. The authors aimed to determine the BP control rate among treated hypertensive patients under specialist care in Argentina, to characterize patients regarding their cardiovascular risk profile and antihypertensive drug use, and to assess the variables independently associated with adequate BP control. The authors included adult hypertensive patients under stable treatment, managed in 10 specialist centers across Argentina. Office BP was measured thrice with a validated oscillometric device. Adequate BP control was defined as an average of the three readings <140/90 mm Hg (and <150/90 in patients older than 80 years). The authors estimated the proportion of adequate BP control and the variables independently associated with it through a multiple conditional logistic regression model. Among the 1146 included patients, 48.2% were men with a mean age of 63.5 (±13.1) years old. Mean office BP was 135.3 (±14.8)/80.8 (±10) mm Hg, with a 64.8% (95% CI: 62%-67.6%) of adequate control. The mean number of antihypertensive drugs was 2.1 per participant, the commonest being angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers. In multivariable analysis, only female sex was a predictor of adequate BP control (OR 1.33 [95% CI 1.02-1.72], P = .04). In conclusion, almost 65% of hypertensive patients treated in specialist centers in Argentina have adequate BP control. The challenge for future research is to define strategies in order to translate this control rate to the primary care level, where most patients are managed.

Reproducibility of masked uncontrolled hypertension detected through home blood pressure monitoring.

Masked uncontrolled hypertension (MUCH) is an entity described in treated hypertensive subjects, where office blood pressure (BP) is well controlled and out-of-office BP is elevated. It has been related to a higher cardiovascular risk. However, the reproducibility of MUCH has been scarcely studied. In this study, we aimed to determine the reproducibility of MUCH detected through home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM). Two sets of measurements were performed in hypertensive adults under stable treatment with a 1-week interval. Each set of measurements included three office BP readings and a 4-day HBPM with duplicate readings in the morning, afternoon, and evening (the same validated oscillometric device was employed in both settings). We determined the percentage of agreement regarding the presence of MUCH in the two sets of measurements and quantified such agreement through the Cohen's kappa coefficient (κ), its 95% confidence interval, and P value. We included 105 patients (median age 58.6 [IQR 45.6-67.2] years old, 53.4% men). MUCH prevalence on at least one occasion was 22.3% (95% CI: 15.2-31.5). The reproducibility of MUCH was scant: κ = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.0002-0.38), P = 0.02, due to the poor reproducibility of the office BP component of MUCH in comparison with the home BP component: κ = 0.21 (95% CI: 0.03-0.39), P = 0.01 vs κ = 0.48 (95% CI 0.29-0.67), P < 0.001, respectively. In conclusion, the reproducibility of MUCH detected through HBPM is minimal, mainly due to the poor reproducibility of office BP measurements. An HBPM-based strategy for the management of patients with MUCH may be more adequate in terms of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Comparing Office, Central, Home and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Predicting Left Ventricular Mass / Comparación entre presión arterial de consultorio, central, domiciliaria y ambulatoria para predecir masa ventricular izquierda

The blood pressure measurement method that more accurately predicts a left ventricular mass is controversial, and the evidence suggesting superiority of central over brachial measurements is contradictory. The aim of this study was to compare the relationship between the different clinic and out-of-clinic blood pressure measurements methods with left ventricular mass in patients who attended a specialised hypertension centre for a central blood pressure measurement. An analysis was performed on the correlations between left ventricular mass and central and brachial blood pressure measurements made in the clinic, and home, as well as 24-h systolic blood pressure measurements. A linear regression analysis was then performed to assess the independent relationship of each blood pressure measurement with left ventricular mass. The results on 824 treated and 123 untreated patients showed no significant differences between correlations, although home readings tended to have the best correlations. In regression adjusted models, for each 10 mmHg increase in systolic home blood pressure the left ventricular mass increased 10 g/m2 (95% CI; 3.7-27, p=.01, adjR2 0.38), and for 24-h ambulatory systolic blood pressure it increased 2.3 g/m2 (95% CI 0.76-3.9, p<.01, adjR2 0.15) in treated and untreated patients, respectively. The association of systolic blood pressure with left ventricular mass was better explained by home and 24-h ambulatory monitoring than to clinic-based measurements in treated and untreated patients, respectively. In the clinic, however, the central measurement was not superior to brachial blood pressure

Existe controversia sobre qué método de medición de presión arterial predice más precisamente la masa ventricular izquierda. La evidencia que sugiere superioridad de las mediciones centrales sobre las braquiales resulta contradictoria. Nuestro objetivo fue comparar la asociación de diferentes formas de medir la presión dentro y fuera del consultorio con masa ventricular izquierda en pacientes que asistieron a un centro especializado en hipertensión a medirse la presión central. Analizamos las correlaciones entre masa ventricular izquierda y presión sistólica a nivel central y braquial en consultorio, en el domicilio y ambulatoria de 24h. Luego realizamos un análisis de regresión lineal para evaluar la asociación independiente de cada método con la masa ventricular izquierda. Como resultado, en 824 pacientes tratados y 123 no tratados las diferencias entre correlaciones no fueron significativas, aunque las lecturas tomadas fuera del consultorio tuvieron mejores asociaciones. En los modelos ajustados, por cada 10mmHg de aumento en la presión sistólica domiciliaria la masa ventricular aumentó 10g/m2 (IC 95%: 3,7-27; p=0,01; R2aj: 0,38), y para la presión sistólica ambulatoria de 24h aumentó 2,3g/m2 (IC 95%: 0,76-3,9; p<0,01; R2aj: 0,15) en pacientes tratados y no tratados, respectivamente. La asociación de la presión arterial sistólica con masa ventricular izquierda fue explicada mejor por el monitoreo domiciliario y ambulatorio de 24h, más que con las mediciones de consultorio en pacientes tratados y no tratados, respectivamente. En el consultorio, sin embargo, la presión central no fue superior a la braquial

Prevalence and related factors of office and home hypotension in older treated hypertensive patients.

BACKGROUND: Older hypertensive adults under treatment are especially susceptible to hypotensive episodes, which entail an elevated risk. However, data on this subject are very scarce. AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of office and home hypotension in older (≥ 65 years) treated hypertensive adults. METHODS: Blood pressure (BP) was measured at the office and at home, using a validated oscillometric device. Office and home hypotension were defined as systolic BP (SBP) < 110 and/or diastolic BP (DBP) < 70 mmHg, and SBP < 105 and/or DBP < 65 mmHg, respectively. Masked hypotension was considered when office BP ≥ 110/70 and home BP < 105 and/or < 65 mmHg. We evaluated factors associated with hypotension both at the office and at home through multivariable models. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypotension among the 302 patients included in the study was 29.8% at the office and 23.9% at home, whereas the prevalence of masked hypotension was 10.4%. Older age, lower body mass index and use of calcium channel blockers were associated with office hypotension, while older age, diabetes and ischemic heart disease were predictors for home hypotension. CONCLUSION: Hypotension is frequent in older hypertensive adults under treatment. The presence of diabetes, ischemic heart disease and older age should alert for screening of hypotension at home to avoid overtreatment.