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

TL;DR

For listenersOffer from Amazon

Turn your wind-down time into listening time

• Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
• Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
• Cancel anytime

Try Audible free →Free trial for new members

As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.Hide

A preliminary study presented at the American Heart Association’s 2026 Hypertension Scientific Sessions found adults older than 78 with masked high blood pressure had a 70% higher rate of falls than peers with high readings both at home and in medical offices. The result is an association, not proof that masked hypertension causes falls, and researchers said the study does not explain the connection.

Adults older than 78 whose blood pressure was high at home but not in a medical office had a 70% higher rate of falls than peers with high readings in both settings, according to preliminary research presented at the American Heart Association’s 2026 Hypertension Scientific Sessions. The finding suggests that home measurements may reveal blood pressure patterns missed during office visits, but the study does not establish that masked high blood pressure causes falls.

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

During a median follow-up of 350 days, 23.4% of participants reported that they had fallen at least once in the previous 12 months. The reported 70% difference compared participants with masked high blood pressure against those with sustained high blood pressure. The researchers also found that, when office and home readings were analyzed continuously, lower office readings relative to home readings were associated with a higher incidence of falls.

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association meeting in Arlington, Virginia, held October 7–11, 2026. They are preliminary research, and the supplied report does not describe a causal link. The results therefore do not show that treating masked high blood pressure would prevent falls.

Why Home Readings May Matter

Blood pressure that appears normal during an appointment may not reflect readings at home. The findings suggest that relying on office measurements alone could leave some older adults’ elevated blood pressure undetected, while home readings may give clinicians additional information when evaluating a patient’s health and care plan.

That matters because falls can lead to injury, disability and loss of independence. 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. The study points to a possible connection between blood pressure patterns and falls, but it does not show why the association occurred or whether addressing those patterns changes fall risk.

Study presenter Frances Wang, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said home readings can help identify “hidden high blood pressure at home and risk of falls in older adults.” Her comments describe the potential value of monitoring; they are not evidence that home monitoring itself prevents falls.

How the Study Classified Blood Pressure

Masked high blood pressure refers here to high readings at home alongside readings that are not high in the office. The comparison group had high readings in both settings, a pattern the researchers called sustained high blood pressure. The study also identified white coat high blood pressure, where readings were high in the office but not at home.

The American Heart Association’s 2025 joint guideline recommends annual blood pressure monitoring for adults. It also recommends home monitoring to help confirm an office diagnosis and to track readings and progress as part of an integrated care plan. Those recommendations provide clinical context for the research, but they do not establish that home monitoring reduces falls.

The study adds to emerging evidence, described in the report, that higher blood pressure at home may be associated with falls in older adults. That differs from the commonly discussed concern that low blood pressure can contribute to falls. The new findings do not resolve how blood pressure may relate to an individual’s fall risk.

““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, Ph.D., M.S., study presenter and researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

Cause of the Fall Link Is Unknown

The study does not explain why participants with masked high blood pressure reported more falls. Watson said blood pressure variability or differences in how people regulate blood pressure during the day may be relevant, but described these as possibilities rather than established explanations.

The supplied report does not provide enough detail to determine whether the association was affected by other health or lifestyle factors, or whether the fall reports were independently verified. It also does not give the absolute fall rate for each blood pressure group, so readers cannot calculate the size of the difference in percentage points from the reported 70% comparison. The result is preliminary and should not be treated as proof of cause and effect.

Further Research and Clinical Follow-Up

The study was presented at a scientific meeting, and the supplied report does not specify a journal publication or a planned follow-up study. Further research would be needed to test whether the association holds in other groups of older adults, clarify possible explanations and determine whether interventions affect fall outcomes.

Wang encouraged older adults, family members and caregivers to measure blood pressure regularly at home and share the readings with a health care team. The American Heart Association guideline likewise describes home monitoring as part of an integrated care plan. People should discuss how to measure and interpret readings, and any changes to care, with a qualified health professional.

Key Questions

What is masked high blood pressure?

In this study, it meant high blood pressure readings at home but not in a medical office. Office measurements alone may not capture that pattern.

How much higher was the reported fall rate?

The study reported a 70% higher rate of falls for participants with masked high blood pressure compared with those whose readings were high both in the office and at home. The report does not provide group-specific absolute rates.

Does the study prove masked high blood pressure causes falls?

No. The researchers reported an association, and the study did not establish that masked high blood pressure caused falls or that treating it would prevent them.

How many people took part?

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

What should older adults do with home readings?

The American Heart Association recommends home monitoring as part of an integrated care plan. People can share their readings with a qualified health professional to discuss interpretation and care; the study is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

Source: rss