Isolated diastolic hypertension and target organ damage: Findings from the STANISLAS cohort

BACKGROUND: Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) is defined as diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥80 mmHg and systolic blood pressure (SBP) <130 mmHg according to 2017 ACC/AHA guidelines. The effective cardiovascular risk linked to IDH is debated. HYPOTHESIS: IDH might contribute marginally to hypertension‐related target organ damage (TOD) development. METHODS: In this cross‐sectional analysis 1605 subjects from the STANISLAS cohort, a large familiar longitudinal study from Eastern France, were included. Participants were categorized according to average values at 24‐h ABP recording as having normal BP (SBP < 130/DBP < 80 mmHg); combined hypertension (SBP ≥130/DBP ≥80 mmHg or on antihypertensive treatment); IDH (SBP <130/DBP >80 mmHg); isolated systolic hypertension (ISH: SBP ≥130/DBP <80 mmHg). The association between hypertension status and TOD was assessed by multivariable‐adjusted logistic models. RESULTS: Using normotension as reference, IDH was not significantly associated with NTproBNP levels (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.04 [95%CI 0.82;1.32], p = .750), microalbuminuria (OR 0.99 [0.69; 1.42], p = .960), diastolic dysfunction (OR 1.53 [0.88; 2.68], p = .130), left ventricular (LV) mass index (OR per 10 g/m(2) increase 1.07 [0.95; 1.21], p = .250), LV longitudinal strain (global: OR 1.07 [0.99; 1.14], p = .054; subendocardial: OR 1.06 [0.99; 1.13], p = .087), carotid intima media thickness (OR 1.27 [0.79; 2.06], p = .320), reduced ankle‐brachial index (<0.9; OR 1.59 [0.19; 13.55], p = .670) and pulse wave velocity (PWV; OR 1.07 [0.93; 1.23], p = .360). In contrast, combined hypertension and ISH were independently associated with LV mass index and PWV increase (all p ≤ .01). CONCLUSIONS: IDH was not significantly associated with TOD. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical role of IDH. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT01391442.