Key result
In-hospital asymptomatic elevated BP flags persistent postdischarge hypertension in ~84% on ABPM.
Why the study?
Prospective data are limited on whether elevated in-hospital blood pressure identifies patients with hypertension after discharge despite variable clinical practice and recommendations to avoid routine therapy changes.
Observational (n=50)
Open-label
No
Asymptomatic elevated routine in-hospital blood pressure identifies a high proportion of patients with persistent, previously unrecognized or uncontrolled hypertension after discharge, supporting routine structured outpatient BP reassessment.
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
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Hausknecht et al. (2026) conducted an observational in Asymptomatic elevated in-hospital blood pressure (n=50). Asymptomatic elevated routine in-hospital blood pressure was evaluated on Prevalence of hypertension on 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) (95% CI 70.9-92.8). Asymptomatic elevated routine in-hospital blood pressure identified persistent hypertension in 84% of participants on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring four weeks after discharge.
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