The association of masked hypertension in treated type 2 diabetic patients with carotid artery IMT

Summary 

Objectives

To evaluate the association of masked hypertension (MH) in treated type 2 diabetic patients without history of cardiovascular disease with carotid artery target organ damage.

Methods

Sixty-four type 2 diabetic patients treated for hypertension with office BP below 140/90mm Hg were examined by 24-h BP monitoring and carotid sonography. MH was diagnosed if daily mean ambulatory BP was ≥135/85mm Hg. The association of MH with carotid artery parameters was evaluated.

Results

The average age of patients was 62±5 years. Twenty-four patients had MH (37.5%). Carotid artery IMT was 0.74±0.08mm in patients with MH and 0.69±0.06mm without MH (p=0.03). The distensibility of common carotid artery was 0.24±0.07 mmHg⁻¹ in patients with MH and 0.29±0.1mm Hg⁻¹ without MH (p=0.14).

After adjustment for age, gender, smoking, duration of diabetes, BMI and clinic blood pressure (BP) values the association of MH with carotid artery IMT was sustained.

Conclusion

Masked hypertension in treated type 2 diabetic patients is associated with carotid artery IMT.

Keywords: Masked hypertension, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Carotid intima-media thickness, Carotid distensibility