Stress and hypertension: C and H type of hypertension and causes of resistance

Abstract

Background. Uncontrolled blood pressure (BP), especially in the context of stress, is associated with a fourfold increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular events compared to patients with hypertension who have reached the target BP level. Aim: to evaluate the mechanisms of the influence of stress on the development of hypertension, types of hypertension and resistance. Materials and methods. The study included 1,146 patients with resistant hypertension who were taking 3 or more antihypertensive drugs and were treated at the department of secondary and pulmonary hypertensions of the State Institution “National Scientific Center “M.D. Strazhesko Institute of Cardiology” of the National Aca­demy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine”. The level of office blood pressure upon admission to the department when taking 3 or more antihypertensive drugs was: systolic — 174.60 ± 0.64 mmHg, diastolic — 100.50 ± 0.38 mmHg. Patients underwent the following examinations: measurement of office blood pressure, daily blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography, measurement of nocturnal sleep apnea, general blood analysis, biochemical blood analysis, determining the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, blood renin, blood aldosterone and their ratio, urine metanephrines, blood cortisol. Results. Among patients with resistant hypertension, there were more women than men — 62.7 versus 36.7 %, respectively. In a study of people with resistant hypertension who did not reach the target level of systolic BP, significantly higher indicators of BP were observed upon admission to the hospital. They had a significantly higher blood cortisol level (155.0 ± 44.0 vs. 35.9 ± 20.8 ng/l, p = 0.026), higher left ventricular mass index (147.50 ± 3.46 vs. 135.30 ± 1.74 g/m2), obesity was more common among them (42.9 versus 37.5 %). Conclusions. Patients with resistant hypertension who did not reach the target level of blood pressure had higher level of cortisol and left ventricular mass index compared to those who achieved the target levels of blood pressure.