TY  - JOUR
A1  - Ramoshaba, Nthai E.
A1  - Huisman, Hugo W.
A1  - Lammertyn, Leandi
A1  - Kotliar, Konstantin
A1  - Schutte, Aletta E.
A1  - Smith, Wayne
T1  - Retinal microvasculature and masked hypertension in young adults: the African-PREDICT study
T2  - Hypertension Research
N2  - Masked hypertension is known to induce microvascular complications. However, it is unclear whether early microvascular changes are already occurring in young, otherwise healthy adults. We therefore investigated whether retinal microvascular calibers and acute responses to a flicker stimulus are related to masked hypertension. We used the baseline data of 889 participants aged 20–30 years who were taking part in the African Prospective study on the Early Detection and Identification of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension. Clinic and 24-h ambulatory blood pressure were measured. The central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent were calculated from fundus images, and retinal vessel dilation was determined in response to flicker light-induced provocation. A smaller CRAE was observed in those with masked hypertension vs. those with normotension (157.1 vs. 161.2 measuring units, P < 0.001). In forward multivariable-adjusted regression analysis, only CRAE was negatively related to masked hypertension [adjusted R² = 0.267, β = −0.097 (95% CI = −0.165; −0.029), P = 0.005], but other retinal microvascular parameters were not associated with masked hypertension. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, masked hypertension [OR = 2.333, (95% CI = 1.316; 4.241), P = 0.004] was associated with a narrower CRAE. In young healthy adults, masked hypertension was associated with retinal arteriolar narrowing, thereby reflecting early microvascular alterations known to predict cardiovascular outcomes in later life.
Y1  - 2020
UR  - https://opus.bibliothek.fh-aachen.de/opus4/frontdoor/index/index/docId/9341
SN  - 1348-4214
IS  - 43
SP  - 1231
EP  - 1238
PB  - Springer Nature
CY  - Osaka
ER  -