Further insights into the 24-h blood pressure profile by home blood pressure monitoring: the issue of morning hypertension

Differences of blood pressure measured at clinic versus at home in the morning and in the evening in Europe and Asia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Numerous studies have indicated that there might be great differences among different populations in Europe and Asia in terms of home morning and evening blood pressure (BP). Thus, the authors performed a systematic review to determine the quantitative differences of BP measured at clinic versus at home in the morning and in the evening in Europe and Asia. PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases were searched up to October 2021. Studies that compared clinic BP with home morning and (or) home evening BP in European and Asian populations were included. A random effect model was applied to pool the differences between clinic BP and home morning/evening BP. Thirty‐five studies, for a total of 49 432 patients, were included in this meta‐analysis. Mean clinic systolic blood pressure (SBP) values were significantly higher than home morning SBP values by 3.79 mmHg (95% CI, 2.77–4.80). The differences were much larger in Europe [(6.53 mmHg (95% CI, 4.10–8.97)] than in Asia [(2.70 mmHg (95% CI, 1.74–3.66)], and the region was a significant predictor for the differences. Mean clinic SBP values were also significantly higher than home evening SBP values by 6.59 mmHg (95% CI, 4.98–8.21). The differences were much smaller in Europe [5.85 mmHg (95% CI, 3.24–8.45)] than in Asia [7.13 mmHg (95% CI, 4.92–9.35)], while age and clinic SBP might contribute to it. Our findings showed that the difference between clinic and home morning SBP was much larger in European than Asian populations, whereas the difference between clinic and home evening SBP was the opposite. The differing characteristics of the region, ethnic, age, and clinic BP might explain the diversities.

Blood pressure control in Italy: analysis of clinical data from 2005-2011 surveys on hypertension

INTRODUCTION

Blood pressure (BP) control is poorly achieved in hypertensive patients, worldwide.

AIM

We evaluated clinic BP levels and the rate of BP control in hypertensive patients included in observational studies and clinical surveys published between 2005 and 2011 in Italy.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical literature to identify observational studies and clinical surveys on hypertension between January 2005 and June 2011, which clearly reported information on clinic BP levels, rates of BP control, proportions of treated and untreated patients, who were followed in different clinical settings (mostly in general practice, and also in outpatient clinics and hypertension centres).

RESULTS

The overall sample included 158 876 hypertensive patients (94 907 women, mean age 56.6 ± 9.6 years, BMI 27.2 ± 4.2 kg/m(2), known duration of hypertension 90.2 ± 12.4 months). In the selected studies, average SBP and DBP levels were 145.7 ± 15.9 and 87.5 ± 9.7 mmHg, respectively; BP levels were higher in patients followed in hypertension centres (n = 10 724, 6.7%; 146.5 ± 17.3/88.5 ± 10.3 mmHg) than in those followed by general practitioners (n = 148 152, 93.3%; 143.5 ± 13.9/84.8 ± 8.9 mmHg; P < 0.01). More than half of the patients were treated (n = 91 318, 57.5%); among treated hypertensive patients, only 31 727 (37.0%) had controlled BP levels.

CONCLUSION

The present analysis confirmed inadequate control of BP in Italy, independently of the clinical setting. Although some improvement was noted compared with a similar analysis performed between 1995 and 2005, these findings highlight the need for a more effective clinical management of hypertension.

Association between home arterial stiffness index and target organ damage in hypertension: comparison with pulse wave velocity and augmentation index

OBJECTIVES

To clarify the implications of the home arterial stiffness index (HASI), we compared HASI with other arterial stiffness measures and investigated the association between HASI and hypertensive target organ damage (TOD).

METHODS

We assessed brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and the carotid augmentation index (cAIx) as measures of arterial stiffness and wave reflection, and the left ventricular mass index (LVMI), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) using ultrasonography, and the urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) as measures of TOD in 356 never-treated hypertensive subjects. Home blood pressure (BP) was taken in triplicate in the morning and evening, respectively, for 14 consecutive days with a memory-equipped device. HASI was defined as 1 minus the respective regression slope of diastolic on systolic BP.

RESULTS

HASI was significantly correlated with age (r = 0.32, P < 0.001), home pulse pressure (r = 0.36, P < 0.001), morning-evening difference in home systolic BP (r = -0.29, P < 0.001), baPWV (r = 0.18, P < 0.001), cAIx (r = 0.16, P = 0.002), carotid IMT (r = 0.26, P < 0.001), and UACR (r = 0.24, P < 0.001), but not with LVMI (r = 0.05, P = 0.38). After adjustment for age and sex, the significant correlation between HASI and baPWV/cAIx was lost. In multivariate regression analyses, HASI and baPWV were significantly associated with carotid IMT (standardized β = 0.21, P<0.001; β = 0.14, P = 0.014) and UACR (β = 0.13, P = 0.018; β = 0.21, P < 0.001), independently of age, sex, and home mean arterial pressure. On the other hand, cAIx was independently associated only with LVMI (β = 0.24, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that HASI adds nothing to the existing measures of arterial stiffness, but might be a BP component that can aid in the detection of carotid atherosclerosis and renal damage, similar to PWV.

Home blood pressure monitoring in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

It is recognized that for the reliable assessment of blood pressure (BP) and the accurate diagnosis of hypertension, out-of-office BP measurement with ambulatory (ABPM) or home BP monitoring (HBPM) is often required. The clinical usefulness of ABPM is well established. However, despite the wide use of HBPM, only in the last decade convincing evidence on its usefulness has accumulated.

METHODS

Systematic review of the evidence on applying HBPM in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension (PubMed, Cochrane Library, 1970-2010).

RESULTS

Sixteen studies in untreated and treated subjects assessed the diagnostic ability of HBPM by taking ABPM as reference. Seven randomized studies compared HBPM vs. office measurements or ABPM for treatment adjustment, whereas many studies compared HBPM with office measurements in assessing the antihypertensive drug effects. Several studies with different design investigated the role of HBPM vs. office measurements in improving patients' compliance with treatment and hypertension control rates. The evidence on the cost-effectiveness of HBPM is limited. The studies reviewed consistently showed moderate diagnostic agreement between HBPM and ABPM, and superiority of HBPM compared to office measurements in diagnosing uncontrolled hypertension, assessing antihypertensive drug effects and improving patients' compliance and hypertension control. Preliminary evidence suggests that HBPM has the potential for cost savings.

CONCLUSIONS

There is conclusive evidence that HBPM is useful for the initial diagnosis and the long-term follow-up of treated hypertension. These data are useful for the optimal application of HBPM, which is widely used in clinical practice. More studies on the cost-effectiveness of HBPM are needed.