Risk Factor and Office Blood Pressure Assessment

Cardiovascular risk factors were ascertained through direct examination and interviews conducted by trained research assistants. Among the variables used in the analysis, diabetes mellitus was defined by current use of insulin or hypoglycemic agents or a fasting glucose of ≥126 mg/dL tested on ≥2 occasions in each participant. Hypercholesterolemia was defined as total serum cholesterol >240 mg/dL or the use of lipid‐lowering medications. Body mass index was calculated using height and weight (kg/m²), and obesity was defined as body mass index ≥30 kg/m².

Office SBP control status was determined on the basis of the mean value of 2 separate blood pressure (BP) measurements performed within 3 months of each other (mean interval, 3.4 days). At each visit, SBP and diastolic blood pressure were measured on the nondominant arm with the patient in a sitting position after 5 minutes of rest, using a sphygmomanometer calibrated against a reference mercury sphygmomanometer and with an arm cuff of appropriate size. BP was recorded twice with a 5‐minute interval, and the average of the 2 recordings was used.