Aortic arch calcification: a novel parameter for prediction of masked hypertension.

Background: Masked hypertension is directly related to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but remains underdiagnosed in clinical practice. The aim of the study was to search the role of aortic arch calcification (AAC) in the diagnosis of masked hypertension.

Methods And Results: Among the patients who underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) in our clinic, those with office blood pressure (OBP) <140/90 mmHg were included in the study population. According to OBP, they were divided into two groups as normal (<130/85 mmHg) and high normal (130-139/85-89 mmHg) OBP groups. Subjects were also investigated for the presence of masked hypertension with ABPM and searched in masked hypertension and control groups. Masked hypertension was defined as in the latest 2017 ACC/AHA Hypertension guideline and was diagnosed as the daytime BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg and nighttime BP ≥ 120/70 mmHg. AAC was evaluated on direct X-ray telecardiography. Diagnosis of masked hypertension was searched depending on the presence of AAC and OBP measurements as well. A total of 216 volunteers were involved in the study [mean age 45.2 ± 12.2 years; female gender 120 (55.5%)]. One hundred ten volunteers (50.9%) had masked hypertension according to the ABPM. AAC was significantly more common in the masked hypertension group (44.5% vs. 26.4%) (P = 0.005). AAC had a positive predictive value of 79% in those with high normal OBP in the diagnosis of masked hypertension, and also AAC had a negative predictive value of 74% in those with normal OBP.

Conclusion: AAC can be used as a reliable diagnostic tool to exclude and predict masked hypertension during office examination.