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

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 140/90 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. Results: The 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. Conclusion: Masked hypertension in treated type 2 diabetic patients is associated with carotid artery IMT. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.