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Background: In patients with the HeartMate 3 (HM3, Abbott) left ventricular (LV) assist device (LVAD), outflow graft narrowing has been reported as a result of accumulation of biodebris either internal or external to the graft. This study describes the prevalence, imaging findings, and clinical outcomes associated with HM3 LVAD outflow graft narrowing., Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was performed in patients who received an HM3 LVAD between November 2014 and July 2019. All patients with a computed tomographic (CT) angiogram or a CT scan with intravenous contrast sufficient to evaluate the outflow graft lumen were included. Narrowing was defined as a hypodensity of ≥3 mm., Results: Of 165 HM3 LVAD recipients, 46 (28%) had qualifying imaging. Outflow graft narrowing was present in 33% (15/46). One patient had complete obstruction requiring emergency surgery, whereas 14 patients had a median hypodensity of 4.5 mm (interquartile range, 3.3-5.8 mm). The presence of outflow graft narrowing was significantly associated with a longer duration of LVAD support (588.2 ± 277.5 days vs 131.5 ± 170.9 days; P < .0001). One-year survival after identification of narrowing was 93%, with death occurring in 1 patient with complete obstruction. LV unloading (mean percent decrease in LV end-diastolic diameter at time of CT imaging vs pre-LVAD) was 16.7% vs 17.7% in patients with and without narrowing, respectively (P = .86)., Conclusions: Among patients with adequate imaging, one-third have evidence of narrowing. Outflow graft narrowing secondary to biodebris was more likely to be found in HM3 LVAD recipients with longer duration of LVAD support. There was no significant difference in LV unloading between patients with and without narrowing., (Copyright © 2023 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the consequences of systemic racism in the United States with Black, Hispanic, and other racial and ethnic diverse populations dying at disproportionately higher rates than White Americans. Addressing the social and health disparities amplified by COVID-19 requires in part restructuring of the healthcare system, particularly the diversity of the healthcare workforce to better reflect that of the US population. In January 2021, the Association of Black Cardiologists hosted a virtual roundtable designed to discuss key issues pertaining to medical workforce diversity and to identify strategies aimed at improving racial and ethnic diversity in medical school, graduate medical education, faculty, and leadership positions. The Nurturing Diverse Generations of the Medical Workforce for Success with Authenticity roundtable brought together diverse stakeholders and champions of diversity and inclusion to discuss innovative ideas, solutions, and opportunities to address workforce diversification.

Background: We pooled ambulatory blood pressure monitoring data from 5 US studies, including the Jackson Heart Study (JHS), the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, the Masked Hypertension Study, the Improving the Detection of Hypertension Study, and the North Carolina Masked Hypertension Study. Using a cross-sectional study design, we estimated differences in the prevalence of masked hypertension by race/ethnicity when out-of-office blood pressure (BP) included awake, asleep, and 24-hour BP vs. awake BP alone., Methods: We restricted the analyses to participants with office systolic BP (SBP) <130 mm Hg and diastolic BP (DBP) <80 mm Hg. High awake BP was defined as mean SBP/DBP ≥130/80 mm Hg, high asleep BP as mean SBP/DBP ≥110/65 mm Hg, and high 24-hour BP as mean SBP/DBP ≥125/75 mm Hg., Results: Among participants not taking antihypertensive medication (n = 1,292), the prevalence of masked hypertension with out-of-office BP defined by awake BP alone or by awake, asleep, or 24-hour BP was 34.5% and 48.7%, respectively, among non-Hispanic White, 39.7% and 67.6% among non-Hispanic Black, and 19.4% and 35.1% among Hispanic participants. After multivariable adjustment, non-Hispanic Black were more likely than non-Hispanic White participants to have masked hypertension by asleep or 24-hour BP but not awake BP (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.14 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-3.15) and by asleep or 24-hour BP and awake BP (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.12-2.32) vs. not having masked hypertension., Conclusions: Assessing asleep and 24-hour BP measures increases the prevalence of masked hypertension more among non-Hispanic Black vs. non-Hispanic White individuals., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Hypertension is associated with more end-organ damage, cardiovascular events, and disability-adjusted life years lost in the United States compared with all other modifiable risk factors. Several guidelines and scientific statements now endorse the use of out-of-office blood pressure (BP) monitoring with ambulatory BP monitoring or home BP monitoring to confirm or exclude hypertension status based on office BP measurement. Current ambulatory or home BP monitoring devices have been reliant on the placement of a BP cuff, typically on the upper arm, to measure BP. There are numerous limitations to this approach. Cuff-based BP may not be well-tolerated for repeated measurements as is utilized with ambulatory BP monitoring. Furthermore, improper technique, including incorrect cuff placement or use of the wrong cuff size, may lead to erroneous readings, affecting diagnosis and management of hypertension. Compared with devices that utilize a cuff, cuffless BP devices may overcome challenges related to technique, tolerability, and overall utility in the outpatient setting. However, cuffless devices have several potential limitations that limit its routine use for the diagnosis and management of hypertension. The review discusses the different approaches for determining BP using various cuffless devices including engineering aspects of cuffless device technologies, validation protocols to test accuracy of cuffless devices, potential barriers to widespread implementation, and future areas of research. This review is intended for the clinicians who utilize out-of-office BP monitoring for the diagnosis and management of hypertension., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Telemedicine visit use vastly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, and this has had an uncertain impact on cardiovascular care quality., Objective: We sought to examine the association between telemedicine visits and the failure to meet the Controlling High Blood Pressure (BP) quality measure from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services., Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 32,727 adult patients with hypertension who were seen in primary care and cardiology clinics at an urban, academic medical center from February to December 2020. The primary outcome was a failure to meet the Controlling High Blood Pressure quality measure, which was defined as having no BP recorded or having a last recorded BP of ≥140/90 mm Hg (ie, poor BP control). Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the association between telemedicine visit use during the study period (none, 1 telemedicine visit, or ≥2 telemedicine visits) and poor BP control; we adjusted for demographic and clinical characteristics., Results: During the study period, no BP was recorded for 2.3% (486/20,745) of patients with in-person visits only, 27.1% (1863/6878) of patients with 1 telemedicine visit, and 25% (1277/5104) of patients with ≥2 telemedicine visits. After adjustment, telemedicine use was associated with poor BP control (1 telemedicine visit: odds ratio [OR] 2.06, 95% CI 1.94-2.18; P<.001; ≥2 telemedicine visits: OR 2.49, 95% CI 2.31-2.68; P<.001; reference: in-person visits only). This effect disappeared when the analysis was restricted to patients with at least 1 recorded BP (1 telemedicine visit: OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.83-0.95; P=.001; ≥2 telemedicine visits: OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83-0.99; P=.03)., Conclusions: Increased telemedicine visit use is associated with poorer performance on the Controlling High Blood Pressure quality measure. However, telemedicine visit use may not negatively impact BP control when BP is recorded., (©Siqin Ye, D Edmund Anstey, Anne Grauer, Gil Metser, Nathalie Moise, Joseph Schwartz, Ian Kronish, Marwah Abdalla. Originally published in JMIR Formative Research (https://formative.jmir.org), 23.03.2022.)

Importance: Therapeutic inertia may contribute to racial and ethnic differences in blood pressure (BP) control., Objective: To determine the association between race and ethnicity and therapeutic inertia in the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT)., Design, Setting, and Participants: This cross-sectional study was a secondary analysis of data from SPRINT, a randomized clinical trial comparing intensive (<120 mm Hg) vs standard (<140 mm Hg) systolic BP treatment goals. Participants were enrolled between November 8, 2010, and March 15, 2013, with a median follow-up 3.26 years. Participants included adults aged 50 years or older at high risk for cardiovascular disease but without diabetes, previous stroke, or heart failure. The present analysis was restricted to participant visits with measured BP above the target goal. Analyses for the present study were performed in from October 2020 through March 2021., Exposures: Self-reported race and ethnicity, mutually exclusively categorized into groups of Hispanic, non-Hispanic Black, or non-Hispanic White participants., Main Outcomes and Measures: Therapeutic inertia, defined as no antihypertensive medication intensification at each study visit where the BP was above target goal. The association between self-reported race and ethnicity and therapeutic inertia was estimated using generalized estimating equations and stratified by treatment group. Antihypertensive medication use was assessed with pill bottle inventories at each visit. Blood pressure was measured using an automated device., Results: A total of 8556 participants, including 4141 in the standard group (22 844 participant-visits; median age, 67.0 years [IQR, 61.0-76.0 years]; 1467 women [35.4%]) and 4415 in the intensive group (35 453 participant-visits; median age, 67.0 years [IQR, 61.0-76.0 years]; 1584 women [35.9%]) with at least 1 eligible study visit were included in the present analysis. Among non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic participants, the overall prevalence of therapeutic inertia in the standard vs intensive groups was 59.8% (95% CI, 58.9%-60.7%) vs 56.0% (95% CI, 55.2%-56.7%), 56.8% (95% CI, 54.4%-59.2%) vs 54.5% (95% CI, 52.4%-56.6%), and 59.7% (95% CI, 56.5%-63.0%) vs 51.0% (95% CI, 47.4%-54.5%), respectively. The adjusted odds ratios in the standard and intensive groups for therapeutic inertia associated with non-Hispanic Black vs non-Hispanic White participants were 0.85 (95% CI, 0.79-0.92) and 0.94 (95% CI, 0.88-1.01), respectively. The adjusted odds ratios for therapeutic inertia comparing Hispanic vs non-Hispanic White participants were 1.00 (95% CI, 0.90-1.13) and 0.89 (95% CI, 0.79-1.00) in the standard and intensive groups, respectively., Conclusions and Relevance: Among SPRINT participants above BP target goal, this cross-sectional study found that therapeutic inertia prevalence was similar or lower for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants compared with non-Hispanic White participants. These findings suggest that a standardized approach to BP management, as used in SPRINT, may help ensure equitable care and could reduce the contribution of therapeutic inertia to disparities in hypertension., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01206062.

Background: Hypertension guidelines recommend screening and treatment for masked hypertension (MHT). Yet, few primary care providers (PCPs) screen for MHT, and little is known about PCP awareness, knowledge, and attitudes toward MHT., Methods: Three focus groups involving 30 PCPs from 3 medical centers in New York were conducted. Focus group transcripts were analyzed using thematic content analysis., Results: Awareness of MHT varied, and only 2 providers had diagnosed MHT. There was also low knowledge about the prevalence and impact of MHT. While some PCPs were receptive to MHT screening after learning about its significance, others viewed the current evidence as insufficient to change practice. Providers were discomforted by labeling patients with nonelevated office blood pressure (BP) as hypertensive and reluctant to add another screening test to their workload without stronger evidence. There was distrust in the accuracy of home BP monitoring to screen for MHT. There was more confidence in ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) for MHT screening, but ABPM was viewed as largely inaccessible. There was broad agreement with lifestyle changes for MHT. There were concerns that antihypertensive medication lacked evidence from randomized trials and could induce harmful side effects., Conclusions: Limited PCP knowledge about MHT, concerns about the accuracy and accessibility of screening tests, overloaded PCPs, and insufficient evidence were major barriers to screening and treatment for MHT. Prior to broad uptake by PCPs, randomized trials demonstrating the net benefits of MHT screening and treatment may be needed, along with increased dissemination of knowledge about MHT and improved access to ABPM., (© American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2021. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

[Figure: see text].

Background: Several atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk factors are associated with awake and nocturnal hypertension., Methods: We assessed the association between a composite ASCVD risk score and awake or nocturnal hypertension using data from participants aged 40-79 years who completed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at the Year 30 Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study exam in 2015-2016 (n = 716) and the baseline Jackson Heart Study exam in 2000-2004 (n = 770). Ten-year predicted ASCVD risk was calculated using the Pooled Cohort risk equations. Awake hypertension was defined as mean awake systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥135 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥85 mm Hg and nocturnal hypertension was defined as mean asleep SBP ≥120 mm Hg or DBP ≥70 mm Hg., Results: Among participants with a 10-year predicted ASCVD risk <5%, 5% to <7.5%, 7.5% to <10%, and ≥10%, the prevalence of awake or nocturnal hypertension as a composite outcome was 29.5%, 47.8%, 62.2%, and 69.7%, respectively. After multivariable adjustment, higher ASCVD risk was associated with higher prevalence ratios for awake or nocturnal hypertension among participants with clinic-measured SBP/DBP <130/85 mm Hg but not ≥130/85 mm Hg. The C-statistic for discriminating between participants with vs. without awake or nocturnal hypertension was 0.012 (95% confidence interval 0.003, 0.016) higher when comparing a model with ASCVD risk and clinic-measured blood pressure (BP) together vs. clinic-measured BP without ASCVD risk., Conclusions: Using 10-year predicted ASCVD risk in conjunction with clinic BP improves discrimination between individuals with and without awake or nocturnal hypertension., (© American Journal of Hypertension, Ltd 2020. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association blood pressure (BP) Hypertension Clinical Practice Guidelines recommends ambulatory BP monitoring to detect masked hypertension. Data on the short-term reproducibility of masked hypertension are scarce. The IDH study (Improving the Detection of Hypertension) enrolled 408 adults not taking antihypertensive medication from 2011 to 2013. Office BP and 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring were performed on 2 occasions, a median of 29 days apart. After excluding participants with office hypertension (mean systolic BP ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic BP ≥80 mm Hg), the analytical sample included 254 participants. Using the κ statistic, we evaluated the reproducibility of masked awake hypertension (awake systolic/diastolic BP ≥130/80 mm Hg) defined by the 2017 BP guideline thresholds, as well as masked 24-hour (24-hour systolic/diastolic BP ≥125/75 mm Hg), masked asleep (asleep systolic/diastolic BP ≥110/65 mm Hg), and any masked hypertension (high awake, 24-hour, and asleep BP). The mean (SD) age of participants was 38.0 (12.3) years and 65.7% were female. Based on the first and second ambulatory BP recordings, 24.0% and 26.4% of participants, respectively, had masked awake hypertension. The κ statistic (95% CI) was 0.50 (0.38-0.62) for masked awake, 0.57 (0.46-0.69) for masked 24-hour, 0.57 (0.47-0.68) for masked asleep, and 0.58 (0.47-0.68) for any masked hypertension. Clinicians should consider the moderate short-term reproducibility of masked hypertension when interpreting the results from a single ambulatory BP recording.

Background: Despite growing evidence of cardiovascular complications associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there are few data regarding the performance of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and the spectrum of echocardiographic findings in this disease., Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed among adult patients admitted to a quaternary care center in New York City between March 1 and April 3, 2020. Patients were included if they underwent TTE during the hospitalization after a known positive diagnosis for COVID-19. Demographic and clinical data were obtained using chart abstraction from the electronic medical record., Results: Of 749 patients, 72 (9.6%) underwent TTE following positive results on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 polymerase chain reaction testing. The most common clinical indications for TTE were concern for a major acute cardiovascular event (45.8%) and hemodynamic instability (29.2%). Although most patients had preserved biventricular function, 34.7% were found to have left ventricular ejection fractions ≤ 50%, and 13.9% had at least moderately reduced right ventricular function. Four patients had wall motion abnormalities suggestive of stress-induced cardiomyopathy. Using Spearman rank correlation, there was an inverse relationship between high-sensitivity troponin T and left ventricular ejection fraction (ρ = -0.34, P = .006). Among 20 patients with prior echocardiograms, only two (10%) had new reductions in LVEF of >10%. Clinical management was changed in eight individuals (24.2%) in whom TTE was ordered for concern for acute major cardiovascular events and three (14.3%) in whom TTE was ordered for hemodynamic evaluation., Conclusions: This study describes the clinical indications for use and diagnostic performance of TTE, as well as findings seen on TTE, in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. In appropriately selected patients, TTE can be an invaluable tool for guiding COVID-19 clinical management., (Copyright © 2020 American Society of Echocardiography. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The mental health toll of COVID-19 on healthcare workers (HCW) is not yet fully described. We characterized distress, coping, and preferences for support among NYC HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic., Methods: This was a cross-sectional web survey of physicians, advanced practice providers, residents/fellows, and nurses, conducted during a peak of inpatient admissions for COVID-19 in NYC (April 9th-April 24th 2020) at a large medical center in NYC (n = 657)., Results: Positive screens for psychological symptoms were common; 57% for acute stress, 48% for depressive, and 33% for anxiety symptoms. For each, a higher percent of nurses/advanced practice providers screened positive vs. attending physicians, though housestaff's rates for acute stress and depression did not differ from either. Sixty-one percent of participants reported increased sense of meaning/purpose since the COVID-19 outbreak. Physical activity/exercise was the most common coping behavior (59%), and access to an individual therapist with online self-guided counseling (33%) garnered the most interest., Conclusions: NYC HCWs, especially nurses and advanced practice providers, are experiencing COVID-19-related psychological distress. Participants reported using empirically-supported coping behaviors, and endorsed indicators of resilience, but they also reported interest in additional wellness resources. Programs developed to mitigate stress among HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic should integrate HCW preferences., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have relevant disclosures., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Critical care cardiology has been impacted by the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. COVID-19 causes severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, as well as several cardiovascular complications including myocarditis, venous thromboembolic disease, cardiogenic shock, and cardiac arrest. The cardiac intensive care unit is rapidly evolving as the need for critical care beds increases. Herein, we describe the changes to the cardiac intensive care unit and the evolving role of critical care cardiologists and other clinicians in the care of these complex patients affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. These include practical recommendations regarding structural and organizational changes to facilitate care of patients with COVID-19; staffing and personnel changes; and health and safety of personnel. We draw upon our own experiences at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center to offer insights into the unique challenges facing critical care clinicians and provide recommendations of how to address these challenges during this unprecedented time., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The novel coronavirus disease 2019, otherwise known as COVID-19, is a global pandemic with primary respiratory manifestations in those who are symptomatic. It has spread to >187 countries with a rapidly growing number of affected patients. Underlying cardiovascular disease is associated with more severe manifestations of COVID-19 and higher rates of mortality. COVID-19 can have both primary (arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and myocarditis) and secondary (myocardial injury/biomarker elevation and heart failure) cardiac involvement. In severe cases, profound circulatory failure can result. This review discusses the presentation and management of patients with severe cardiac complications of COVID-19 disease, with an emphasis on a Heart-Lung team approach in patient management. Furthermore, it focuses on the use of and indications for acute mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic and/or mixed shock.

Objectives: To evaluate the associations of high awake blood pressure (BP), high asleep BP, and nondipping BP, determined by ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM), with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and geometry., Methods: Black and white participants (n = 687) in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study underwent 24-h ABPM and echocardiography at the Year 30 Exam in 2015-2016. The prevalence and prevalence ratios of LVH were calculated for high awake SBP (≥130 mmHg), high asleep SBP (≥110 mmHg), the cross-classification of high awake and asleep SBP, and nondipping SBP (percentage decline in awake-to-asleep SBP < 10%). Odds ratios for abnormal left ventricular geometry associated with these phenotypes were calculated., Results: Overall, 46.0 and 49.1% of study participants had high awake and asleep SBP, respectively, and 31.1% had nondipping SBP. After adjustment for demographics and clinical characteristics, high awake SBP was associated with a prevalence ratio for LVH of 2.79 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.63-4.79]. High asleep SBP was also associated with a prevalence ratio for LVH of 2.19 (95% CI 1.25-3.83). There was no evidence of an association between nondipping SBP and LVH (prevalence ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.44-1.12). High awake SBP with or without high asleep SBP was associated with a higher odds ratio of concentric remodeling and hypertrophy., Conclusion: Awake and asleep SBP, but not the decline in awake-to-asleep SBP, were associated with increased prevalence of cardiac end-organ damage.

Objective: To evaluate the association of sex with masked hypertension, defined by out-of-clinic hypertension based on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) among adults without hypertension based on blood pressure (BP) measured in the clinic, after adjusting for potential confounders., Methods: We evaluated sex differences in the prevalence of masked hypertension and the difference between awake, or alternatively 24-h, ambulatory BP and clinic BP using multivariable adjusted models among 658 participants who underwent 24-h ABPM and had clinic SBP/DBP less than 140/90 mmHg during the Year 30 Exam of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study., Results: The mean age ± standard deviation (SD) of the participants was 54.8 ± 3.7 years, 58.4% were women, and 58.2% were black. The prevalence of any masked hypertension was 37.5% among women and 60.6% among men. In a model including adjustment for demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, antihypertensive medication, and clinic BP, the prevalence ratios (95% confidence intervals) comparing men versus women were 1.39 (1.18-1.63) for any masked hypertension, and 1.60 (1.28-1.99), 1.71 (1.36-2.15), and 1.40 (1.13-1.73) for masked awake, 24-h and asleep hypertension, respectively. In a fully adjusted model, the differences between mean awake ambulatory BP and clinic BP were 2.75 [standard error (SE) 0.92] mmHg higher for SBP and 3.61 (SE 0.58) mmHg higher for DBP among men compared with women., Conclusion: The prevalence of masked hypertension on ABPM was high in both men and women. Male sex was an independent predictor of masked hypertension.

Background Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and all-cause mortality. Many individuals without LVH have a left ventricular mass that exceeds the level predicted by their sex, body size, and cardiac workload, a condition called inappropriate left ventricular mass (iLVM). We investigated the association of iLVM with CVD events and all-cause mortality among blacks. Methods and Results We analyzed data from the Jackson Heart Study, a community-based cohort of blacks. The current analysis included 4424 participants without CVD and with an echocardiogram at baseline. Among this cohort, the prevalence of iLVM was 13.8%. There were 262 CVD events and 419 deaths over a median follow-up of 9.7 years (maximum, 12 years). Compared with participants without iLVM, participants with iLVM had a higher rate of CVD events and all-cause mortality. After multivariable adjustment, including for the presence of LVH, iLVM was associated with an increased risk of CVD events (hazard ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.33-2.62). The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 1.29 (95% CI, 0.98-1.70). Among participants without and with LVH, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of iLVM for CVD events were 2.53 (95% CI, 1.68-3.81) and 1.21 (95% CI, 0.74-2.00), respectively (P interaction =0.029); and for all-cause mortality, the hazard ratios were 1.24 (95% CI, 0.81-1.89) and 1.26 (95% CI, 0.86-1.85), respectively (P interaction =0.664). Conclusions iLVM is associated with an increased risk for CVD events among blacks without LVH.

Purpose of Review: To review issues regarding the practical implementation of screening strategies for masked hypertension., Recent Findings: Masked hypertension has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease events and all-cause mortality. Recent guidelines have encouraged practitioners to use out-of-clinic monitoring to detect masked hypertension in some situations. However, it is unclear from these guidelines who should be screened or how to best measure out-of-office blood pressure. In this review, challenges to screening strategies for masked hypertension, and factors that should be considered when deciding to screen using ambulatory or home blood pressure monitoring. Masked hypertension is an important clinical phenotype to detect. Future research is needed in order to develop optimal screening strategies, and to understand population level implications of using ambulatory or home blood pressure monitoring on blood pressure control.

Nocturnal hypertension and non-dipping blood pressure are each associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We determined differences in nocturnal hypertension and non-dipping systolic/diastolic blood pressure among black and white men and women who underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring at the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study Year 30 Exam in 2015-2016. Asleep and awake periods were determined from actigraphy complemented by sleep diaries. Nocturnal hypertension was defined as mean asleep systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥ 120/70 mm Hg. Non-dipping systolic and diastolic blood pressure, separately, were defined as a decline in awake-to-asleep blood pressure < 10%. Among 767 participants, the prevalence of nocturnal hypertension was 18.4% and 44.4% in white and black women, respectively, and 36.4% and 59.9% in white and black men, respectively. After multivariable adjustment and compared with white women, the prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) for nocturnal hypertension was 1.65 (1.18-2.32) for black women, 1.63 (1.14-2.33) for white men, and 2.01 (1.43-2.82) for black men. The prevalence of non-dipping systolic blood pressure was 21.5% and 41.0% in white and black women, respectively, and 20.2% and 37.9% in white and black men, respectively. Compared with white women, the multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) for non-dipping systolic blood pressure was 1.66 (1.18-2.32), 0.91 (0.58-1.42) and 1.66 (1.15-2.39) among black women, white men, and black men, respectively. Non-dipping diastolic blood pressure did not differ by race-sex groups following multivariable adjustment. In conclusion, black women and men have a high prevalence of nocturnal hypertension and non-dipping systolic blood pressure., (©2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

In 2017, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and the American College of Physicians/American Academy of Family Physicians (ACP/AAFP) published blood pressure guidelines. Adults recommended antihypertensive medication initiation or intensification by the ACP/AAFP guideline receive the same recommendation from the ACC/AHA guideline. However, many adults ≥60 years old are recommended to initiate or intensify antihypertensive medication by the ACC/AHA but not the ACP/AAFP guideline. We compared atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event rates according to antihypertensive treatment recommendations in the ACC/AHA and ACP/AAFP guidelines among adults ≥60 years old with systolic blood pressure ≥130 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mm Hg in the REGARDS study (Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke) and the JHS (Jackson Heart Study). Among 4311 participants not taking antihypertensive medication at baseline, 11.4%, 61.2%, and 27.4% were recommended antihypertensive medication initiation by neither guideline, the ACC/AHA but not the ACP/AAFP guideline, and both guidelines, respectively. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event rates (95% CI) for these groups were 3.4 (1.6-5.2), 18.0 (16.1-19.8), and 25.3 (21.9-28.6) per 1000 person-years, respectively. Among 7281 participants taking antihypertensive medication at baseline, 57.9% and 42.1% were recommended antihypertensive medication intensification by the ACC/AHA but not the ACP/AAFP guideline and both guidelines, respectively. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease event rates (95% CI) for these groups were 18.2 (16.7-19.7) and 33.0 (30.5-35.4) per 1000 person-years, respectively. In conclusion, adults recommended initiation or intensification of antihypertensive medication by the ACC/AHA but not the ACP/AAFP guideline have high atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk that may be reduced through treatment initiation or intensification.

Guidelines recommend measuring out-of-clinic blood pressure (BP) to identify masked hypertension (MHT) defined by out-of-clinic BP in the hypertensive range among individuals with clinic-measured BP not in the hypertensive range. The aim of this study was to determine the overlap between ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM) for the detection of MHT. We analyzed data from 333 community-dwelling adults not taking antihypertensive medication with clinic BP <140/90 mm Hg in the IDH study (Improving the Detection of Hypertension). Any MHT was defined by the presence of daytime MHT (mean daytime BP ≥135/85 mm Hg), 24-hour MHT (mean 24-hour BP ≥130/80 mm Hg), or nighttime MHT (mean nighttime BP ≥120/70 mm Hg). Home MHT was defined as mean BP ≥135/85 mm Hg on HBPM. The prevalence of MHT was 25.8% for any MHT and 11.1% for home MHT. Among participants with MHT on either ABPM or HBPM, 29.5% had MHT on both ABPM and HBPM; 61.1% had MHT only on ABPM; and 9.4% of participants had MHT only on HBPM. After multivariable adjustment and compared with participants without MHT on ABPM and HBPM, those with MHT on both ABPM and HBPM and only on ABPM had a higher left ventricular mass index (mean difference [SE], 12.7 [2.9] g/m 2 , P<0.001; and 4.9 [2.1] g/m 2 , P=0.022, respectively), whereas participants with MHT only on HBPM did not have an increased left ventricular mass index (mean difference [SE], -1.9 [4.8] g/m 2 , P=0.693). These data suggest that conducting ABPM will detect many individuals with MHT who have an increased cardiovascular disease risk.

Background Obtaining out-of-clinic blood pressure ( BP ) measurements to confirm a diagnosis of hypertension is recommended before initiating treatment. There are few empiric data available on the number of measurements required to reliably estimate BP on home BP monitoring ( HBPM ). Methods and Results We analyzed data from 316 community-dwelling adults not taking antihypertensive medication from the IDH (Improving the Detection of Hypertension) study who performed HBPM for 14 days. The reliability of home BP measurements was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient and as the percentage of participants with an absolute difference in home BP <10 mm Hg between weeks. The reliability of home hypertension status was assessed by the κ statistic. In the IDH study, 13.6% of participants had clinic hypertension and 18.0% had home hypertension. Mean home systolic and diastolic BP exhibited excellent reliability and sufficient agreement using the average of 2 morning and 2 evening BP readings for a minimum of 2 days of HBPM and a single morning and single evening or 2 morning BP readings for a minimum of 3 days. For diagnosing home hypertension, there was good agreement with a minimum of 3 days of HBPM using the average of 2 morning and 2 evening measurements or a single morning and single evening BP reading. A greater number of days was required for the other HBPM strategies. Conclusions Using the average of morning and evening readings, 3 days of HBPM are needed to reliably estimate mean home BP and diagnose out-of-clinic hypertension.

We calculated the prevalence of white coat hypertension (WCH) using out-of-clinic blood pressure (BP) in the daytime period; daytime and 24-hour periods; and daytime, 24-hour, and nighttime periods among 199 African Americans with clinic-measured systolic/diastolic BP ≥140/90 mm Hg in the Jackson Heart Study. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) was measured among participants with WCH and 374 participants with sustained normotension (ie, non-hypertensive clinic, daytime, 24-hour, and nighttime BP). The prevalence of WCH was 29.6%, 21.1%, and 10.6% using daytime BP; daytime and 24-hour BP; and daytime, 24-hour, and nighttime BP, respectively. Compared with sustained normotension, LVMI was higher when WCH was defined using daytime BP (adjusted mean difference [95% CI] 5.0 [-0.2, 10.1] g/m 2 ), but not when defined using daytime and 24-hour BP or daytime, 24-hour, and nighttime BP (adjusted mean difference [95% CI] 3.9 [-1.9, 9.7] and 0.4 [-7.3,8.2] g/m 2 , respectively). Using only daytime BP overestimates the prevalence of WCH among African Americans., (©2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Masked hypertension refers to the phenomenon of having a non-elevated clinic blood pressure (BP) despite having an elevated out-of-clinic BP. Masked hypertension is a common phenotype with a cardiovascular risk profile similar to that of sustained hypertension, defined as elevated clinic and out-of-clinic BP. Current guidelines offer little guidance on the best practices for detecting and treating masked hypertension. This is in part due to insufficient evidence upon which to base recommendations as many questions remain regarding the optimal clinical management of masked hypertension. In this review, we will discuss the recent literature on masked hypertension related to disease prevalence, diagnosis, screening strategies, adverse outcomes, and treatment, and will highlight critical areas for future research.

Background: Among individuals without hypertension based on clinic blood pressure (BP), it is unclear who should be screened for masked hypertension, defined as having hypertension based on out-of-clinic BP. We hypothesized that individuals with a higher 10-year predicted atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, calculated using the pooled cohort risk equations, have a higher prevalence of masked hypertension., Methods and Results: We analyzed data from the Jackson Heart Study-a population-based cohort of blacks-to determine the association of predicted ASCVD risk with masked hypertension. The sample included 644 participants, 40 to 79 years of age, with clinic systolic/diastolic BP <140/90 mm Hg, who completed ambulatory BP monitoring, were free of cardiovascular disease, and had data on factors needed to calculate ASCVD risk. Ten-year predicted ASCVD risk was calculated using the pooled cohort risk equations. Any masked hypertension was defined as masked daytime hypertension (mean daytime systolic/diastolic BP ≥135/85 mm Hg), masked nighttime hypertension (mean nighttime systolic/diastolic BP ≥120/70 mm Hg), or masked 24-hour hypertension (mean 24-hour systolic/diastolic BP ≥130/80 mm Hg). The prevalence of any masked hypertension was 54.0%. Compared with participants in the lowest (<5%) predicted ASCVD risk category, multivariable-adjusted prevalence ratios (95% confidence interval) for any masked hypertension were 1.36 (1.03-1.79), 1.62 (1.22-2.16), and 1.91 (1.47-2.48) for those with ASCVD risk of 5% to <7.5%, 7.5% to <10%, and ≥10%, respectively. The C statistic for discriminating between participants with versus without any masked hypertension was 0.681 (95% confidence interval, 0.640-0.723) for ASCVD risk and 0.703 (95% confidence interval, 0.663-0.744) for clinic systolic BP and diastolic BP., Conclusions: Higher ASCVD risk was associated with an increased prevalence of masked hypertension. Although the discrimination of ASCVD risk for masked hypertension was not superior to clinic BP, risk prediction equations may be useful for identifying the subgroup of individuals with both masked hypertension and high predicted ASCVD risk., (© 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.)

The metabolic syndrome is associated with higher ambulatory blood pressure. The authors studied the association of metabolic syndrome and masked hypertension (MHT) among African Americans with clinic-measured systolic/diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) <140/90 mm Hg in the Jackson Heart Study. MHT was defined as daytime, nighttime, or 24-hour hypertension on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Among 359 participants not taking antihypertensive medication, the metabolic syndrome was associated with MHT (prevalence ratio, 1.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-1.74]). When metabolic syndrome components (clinic SBP/DBP 130-139/85-89 mm Hg, abdominal obesity, impaired glucose, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides) were analyzed separately, only clinic SBP/DBP 130-139/85-89 mm Hg was associated with MHT (prevalence ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-2.32]). The metabolic syndrome was not associated with MHT among participants not taking antihypertensive medication with SBP/DBP 130-139/85-89 and <130/85 mm Hg, separately, or among participants taking antihypertensive medication (n=393). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring screening for MHT among African Americans should be considered based on clinic BP, not metabolic syndrome., (©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Abnormal diurnal blood pressure (BP), including nondipping patterns, assessed using ambulatory BP monitoring, have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk among white and Asian adults. We examined the associations of BP dipping patterns (dipping, nondipping, and reverse dipping) with cardiovascular target organ damage (left ventricular mass index and left ventricular hypertrophy), among participants from the Jackson Heart Study, an exclusively black population-based cohort., Methods and Results: Analyses included 1015 participants who completed ambulatory BP monitoring and had echocardiography data from the baseline visit. Participants were categorized based on the nighttime to daytime systolic BP ratio into 3 patterns: dipping pattern (≤0.90), nondipping pattern (>0.90 to ≤1.00), and reverse dipping pattern (>1.00). The prevalence of dipping, nondipping, and reverse dipping patterns was 33.6%, 48.2%, and 18.2%, respectively. In a fully adjusted model, which included antihypertensive medication use and clinic and daytime systolic BP, the mean differences in left ventricular mass index between reverse dipping pattern versus dipping pattern was 8.3±2.1 g/m 2 ( P <0.001) and between nondipping pattern versus dipping pattern was -1.0±1.6 g/m 2 ( P =0.536). Compared with participants with a dipping pattern, the prevalence ratio for having left ventricular hypertrophy was 1.65 (95% CI, 1.05-2.58) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.63-1.97) for those with a reverse dipping pattern and nondipping pattern, respectively., Conclusions: In this population-based study of blacks, a reverse dipping pattern was associated with increased left ventricular mass index and a higher prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy. Identification of a reverse dipping pattern on ambulatory BP monitoring may help identify black at increased risk for cardiovascular target organ damage., (© 2017 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.)

Purpose: To investigate whether a delay in the timing of surgery of > 6 months compared with performing the surgery ≤ 6 months after the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury leads to an increased risk of injuries or degenerative changes in the ACL-deficient knee., Methods: Patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction at an academic tertiary care center, and had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed within 2 months of the time of the ACL injury were included. The prevalence of degenerative changes at the time of surgery was assessed and related to the timing of ACL surgery, with "early reconstruction" defined as a surgery performed ≤ 6 months and "delayed reconstruction" defined as surgery performed > 6 months after ACL injury. "New" meniscal tears were defined as lesions detected at the time of surgery that were not detected by MRI., Results: Of 195 patients who were selected based on inclusion criteria, 171 patients underwent surgery ≤ 6 months after their ACL injury, and 24 patients underwent surgery > 6 months after their ACL injury. The prevalence of new medial meniscal tears in the early reconstruction group was 4.1%, while in the delayed reconstruction group, the prevalence was 16.7% (P = 0.012)., Conclusion: A delay in the timing of ACL reconstruction from ≤ 6 months to > 6 months following injury is associated with a significant increase in the prevalence of medial meniscal tears (P = 0.012), with a relative risk of 4.07 (CI, 1.29-12.88).