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

SummaryObjectivesTo evaluate the association of masked hypertension (MH) in treated type 2 diabetic patients without history of cardiovascular disease with carotid artery target organ damage.MethodsSixty-four type 2 diabetic patients treated for hypertension with office BP below 140/90 mm Hg were examined by 24-h BP monitoring and carotid sonography. MH was diagnosed if daily mean ambulatory BP was ≥135/85 mm Hg. The association of MH with carotid artery parameters was evaluated.ResultsThe average age of patients was 62 ± 5 years. Twenty-four patients had MH (37.5%). Carotid artery IMT was 0.74 ± 0.08 mm in patients with MH and 0.69 ± 0.06 mm 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 ± 0.1 mm 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.ConclusionMasked hypertension in treated type 2 diabetic patients is associated with carotid artery IMT.