J Prev Med Public Health.  2011 May;44(3):131-139. 10.3961/jpmph.2011.44.3.131.

Frequency and Related Factors of Masked Hypertension at a Worksite in Korea

• Kim SK
• Bae JH
• Nah DY
• Lee DW
• Hwang TY
• Lee KS

• KMID: 1093273
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.2011.44.3.131

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Masked hypertension is associated with metabolic risks and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to identify the frequency of and risk factors of masked hypertension in Korean workers.
METHODS
The study was conducted among 121 employees at a hotel in Gyeongju, Korea, from December 2008 to February 2009. We measured blood pressure (BP) both in the clinic and using 24-hour ambulatory BP monitors for all subjects. Hypertension was defined independently by both methods, and subjects were classified into four groups: true normotension, masked hypertension, white coat hypertension, and sustained hypertension.
RESULTS
The frequency of masked hypertension in our study group was 25.6%. Compared with true normotension, the factors related to masked hypertension were male gender (odds ratio [OR], 10.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 81.09), aging one year (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78 to 0.99), clinic BP 120-129/80-84 mmHg (OR, 8.42; 95% CI, 1.51 to 46.82), clinic BP 130-139 / 85-89 mmHg (OR, 12.14; 95% CI, 1.80 to 81.85), smoking (OR, 5.51; 95% CI, 1.15 to 26.54), and increase of total cholesterol 1 mg / dL (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08). In males only, these factors were clinic BP 120-129 / 80-84 mmHg (OR, 15.07; 95% CI, 1.55 to 146.19), clinic BP 130-139 / 85-89 mmHg (OR, 17.16; 95% CI, 1.56 to 189.45), smoking (OR, 11.61; 95% CI, 1.52 to 88.62), and increase of total cholesterol 1 mg/dL (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.09).
CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of masked hypertension was high in our study sample. Detection and management of masked hypertension, a known strong predictor of cardiovascular risk, could improve prognosis for at-risk populations.

Keyword

Hypertension; Masked hypertension; Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; Worksite

MeSH Terms

Adult
Age Factors
Blood Pressure
Female
Health Behavior
Humans
Hypertension/*ethnology
Lipids/blood
Male
Middle Aged
Occupational Diseases/ethnology
Occupational Health/statistics & numerical data
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Sex Factors
Smoking/adverse effects/ethnology
Socioeconomic Factors
Stress, Psychological/complications/ethnology
Workplace/psychology/statistics & numerical data