FREQUENCY OF MASKED HYPERTENSION IN DIABETIC PATIENTS BY USING AMBULATORY BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORING DEVICE

Objective: To determine the frequency of masked hypertension in normotensive type2 diabetic patients by means of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 230 normotensive patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Patients underwent 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Patients with increased daytime blood pressure levels (􀀂135/85mmHg) were classified as having masked hypertension. Results: The prevalence of masked hypertension was 31.7% (n=73). Normotensive and masked hypertensive subjects, based on ambulatory blood pressure, were not different in terms of age and diabetes duration. The office systolic blood pressure was higher in those with masked hypertension than in the normotensive group(128.8±8.5 vs. 123.9±9.2mmHg, p= 0.003). Conclusion: Upto one third of normotensive type 2 diabetic patients have masked hypertension according to ABPM. Therefore, ABPM is important to identify this high-risk group so as to be able to take interventional measures early on.