Identifying Masked Hypertension in Young Adults: A Pilot Study
Abstract
Background: Current hypertension guidelines recommend combining both the office (clinic) BP and out-of-office (home) BP to diagnose hypertension. This study was designed to explore masked hypertension in the young adult population of a defined community by home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM).
Methodology: It was a community-based, prospective, observational study conducted by the hypertension study group, Chattagram International Medical College at Ward number 4 (Chandgaon), Chattogram City Corporation, Chattogram from May 15, 2023, to September 14, 2023. Young adults of 18 to 35 years with no history of hypertension, not on any antihypertensive, with clinic BP measurement <140/ 90 mm Hg and who consented were included in the study. After taking HBPM recording twice daily for seven successive days, the participant returned to the clinic with the completed HBPM chart and returned the devices. The data were analyzed; masked hypertension was labelled when clinic blood pressure measurement was less than 140/90 mmHg and average HBPM monitoring was e”135/85 mm Hg.