Work

Persistent Hypertension After Asymptomatic Elevated In-Hospital Blood Pressure: The INDEBP Study

Year: 2026

Type: preprint

Abstract: Background Elevated blood pressure (BP) is common during hospitalization. Despite recommendations to avoid routine changes in antihypertensive therapy, clinical practice remains variable. Prospective data on whether elevated in-hospital BP identifies patients with hypertension after discharge are limited. Methods Adults hospitalized for non-cardiac conditions with asymptomatic routine in-hospital BP ≥140 and/or ≥90 mmHg on at least two occasions separated by ≥24 hours were prospectively enrolled. Antihypertensive therapy was managed at the discretion of treating physicians. Routine in-hospital BP, standardized research BP, and changes in antihypertensive therapy were recorded. Four weeks after discharge, participants underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). Results Among 50 participants, 42 (84%; 95% CI, 70.9 – 92.8) had hypertension on follow-up ABPM. Among 21 participants without known hypertension, 18 (86%) had previously unrecognized hypertension on follow-up ABPM; among 29 participants with known hypertension, 24 (83%) had uncontrolled hypertension. Antihypertensive therapy was changed during hospitalization in 26 participants (52%), with de-escalation more frequent than intensification. Hypertension on follow-up ABPM was present in 88.5% of participants with and 79.2% without in-hospital therapy changes. Standardized research BP, but not routine in-hospital BP, correlated with follow-up ABPM. Conclusion Asymptomatic elevated routine in-hospital BP identified a population with a high prevalence of hypertension four weeks after discharge, including patients with and without previously diagnosed hypertension. These findings support structured post-discharge BP reassessment rather than assuming that elevated in-hospital BP is transient. URL: www.ClinicalTrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT06132451 Abstract Figure

Source: medRxiv

DOI: 10.64898/2026.10.08.26365097

Authors: Katharina Hausknecht, Michael Mayr, Tobias Breidthardt, Thilo Burkard, Annina S. Vischer

Institutions: University of Basel, University Hospital of Basel, Luzerner Kantonsspital

Language: English

Topic: Blood Pressure and Hypertension Studies

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, Universitätsspital Basel, Schweizerische Herzstiftung