Objective: There is a scarcity of data on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in HIV-infected individuals. The aim of the study was to identify possible predictors of ABP in HIV-infected individuals.
Methods: From a cohort of 542 HIV-infected patients, ABP monitoring was undertaken in 77 patients with high office blood pressure (BP) readings and without antihypertensive treatment.
Results: 24-h and daytime ABPs were associated with HIV duration (r=0.24-0.33, p=0.004-0.033), but not with duration of combined antiretroviral therapy. In multivariate linear regression analyses with the different ABPs as dependent variables, HIV duration (unstandardized beta=0.41-0.89, p=0.008-0.045) and log-transformed urinary albumin excretion (p=0.003-0.043) were predictors of all 24-h and daytime ABPs. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed HIV duration (OR=1.14/year (95% CI 1.03-1.26)) as predictor of hypertension defined according to daytime ABP. Nocturnal hypertension was observed in 81%, white coat hypertension was present in 26%.
Conclusions: HIV duration was an independent predictor of ABP and hypertension in a selected group of HIV-infected individuals. Nocturnal hypertension was prevalent, and white coat hypertension was present in one fourth of the patients.