Elderly Adults With Masked High Blood Pressure Linked To Higher Risk Of Falls

TL;DR

Before you orderOffer from Amazon

Get everyday helpers delivered free with Prime

• Fast, free delivery on millions of items
• Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
• Member-only deals all year

Start your free Prime trial →Free trial for eligible customers · Cancel anytime

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

A preliminary study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2026 Hypertension Scientific Sessions found that adults older than 78 with masked high blood pressure had a 70% higher rate of falls than peers whose blood pressure was high both at home and in medical offices. The finding is an association, not proof that masked hypertension causes falls, and the researchers say the reason for the link is not established.

Adults older than 78 with masked high blood pressure had a 70% higher rate of falls than peers whose blood pressure was high both at home and in a medical office, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s Hypertension Scientific Sessions in Arlington, Virginia. The findings point to home readings as a potential source of information about fall risk, but do not show that masked hypertension causes falls.

The study included 758 adults older than 78, grouped according to blood pressure readings taken in medical offices and at home. Researchers classified 15.4% as having masked high blood pressure: office readings were not high, while readings at home were. Another 34.5% had sustained high blood pressure, meaning readings were high in both settings; 17.0% had white coat high blood pressure, and 33.2% had normal readings in both settings.

Over a median follow-up of 350 days, 23.4% of participants reported having fallen at least once during the previous 12 months. The researchers also found that, when office and home readings were examined as continuous measures, lower office blood pressure relative to home blood pressure was associated with a higher incidence of falls. The report does not provide a causal explanation for the observed association.

The research was presented as preliminary at the American Heart Association’s scientific meeting, held Oct. 7–11, 2026. The study’s presenting author, Frances Wang, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, said home readings may help identify high blood pressure that is not apparent during an office visit and can contribute information to clinical assessment.

Why Home Readings May Matter

The findings matter because blood pressure measured in a clinic may not reflect readings at home. If the association is borne out in further research, home monitoring could help clinicians spot a pattern that an office measurement alone might miss when considering an older patient’s health and fall risk.

Falls can have serious consequences for older adults. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identifies falls as the leading cause of disability and functional decline among adults 65 and older. American Heart Association volunteer expert Karol E. Watson, who was not involved in the study, said falls can contribute to declines in physical and mental function and loss of independence. The study does not establish that treating masked high blood pressure will prevent falls.

Wang said regular home readings, shared with a health care team, may provide useful information for care planning. The results support taking readings from more than one setting seriously, rather than treating an office result as a complete picture of blood pressure.

Office and Home Readings Compared

Masked high blood pressure refers here to a pattern in which blood pressure is not high in a medical office but is high at home. The contrasting “white coat” pattern is high office blood pressure with lower readings at home; sustained high blood pressure is elevated in both settings. These categories depend on measurements across settings rather than a single office reading.

The American Heart Association’s 2025 adult blood pressure guideline recommends annual blood pressure monitoring for all adults and recommends home monitoring to help confirm an office diagnosis and track readings as part of an integrated care plan. The study’s findings align with that emphasis on home measurement, although the research itself is preliminary and does not change the guideline.

Earlier evidence has also suggested that high blood pressure at home may be associated with falls in older adults, according to the report. The new analysis adds a comparison among blood pressure groups in a sample of people older than 78; it does not settle why the relationship might occur.

““These findings highlight that, in addition to office blood pressure measurement, home blood pressure readings can be an important way to identify hidden high blood pressure at home and risk of falls in older adults.””

— Frances Wang, study presenting author and researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Cause and Risk Still Unresolved

The study found an association, not cause and effect. It does not explain why participants with masked high blood pressure reported more falls, or establish that the blood pressure pattern itself led to the falls. Watson suggested blood pressure variability or the body’s ability to regulate pressure during the day might be relevant, but presented these as possibilities rather than findings proven by the analysis.

The available report also leaves open how the results might apply to adults younger than 79 or to people outside the study sample. Falls were self-reported, and the follow-up was a median of 350 days. The results were presented at a scientific meeting as preliminary research; further information would be needed to assess the methods and determine whether the association holds in other groups.

Further Research and Clinical Follow-Up

The next step is further research to test whether the observed link appears in other populations and to investigate possible explanations. The report does not announce a follow-up study or provide a timetable for additional results.

For now, the American Heart Association’s existing guidance supports home monitoring as part of blood pressure assessment and care. Wang encouraged older adults and their caregivers to share home readings with a health care team. Decisions about measuring or managing blood pressure should be discussed with a qualified health professional, who can interpret readings alongside a person’s health history and circumstances.

Key Questions

What is masked high blood pressure?

In this study, it described blood pressure that was not high in a medical office but was high at home. The pattern can be missed if assessment relies only on office readings.

How much higher was the fall rate?

Among adults older than 78, the masked high blood pressure group had a 70% higher rate of falls than participants whose readings were high both at home and in the office. This is a comparison between groups, not evidence that hypertension caused the falls.

How many people took part in the study?

The study included 758 adults older than 78. During a median follow-up of 350 days, 23.4% reported at least one fall during the previous 12 months.

Does the research show that home monitoring prevents falls?

No. The study links a blood pressure pattern with reported falls but does not test whether home monitoring or treatment prevents falls. The researchers said home readings may provide additional information for a care team.

Why might masked high blood pressure be linked to falls?

The study did not establish a reason. Blood pressure variability and how well the body regulates pressure during the day were raised as possibilities by an outside expert, not confirmed explanations.

Source: rss