Signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency would MOST likely be delayed in patients who:

In patients who have chronic hypertension, the body often adapts to high blood pressure levels over time. As a result, they may develop a tolerance to symptoms associated with fluctuations in blood pressure, which means that signs and symptoms of a hypertensive emergency might not be as pronounced or could be delayed. Chronic hypertension can lead to changes in the cardiovascular system, such as remodeling of blood vessels, that can mask the immediate effects of a sudden increase in blood pressure.

In contrast, patients without chronic hypertension or those who are newer to hypertension might experience more immediate and noticeable symptoms when their blood pressure rises dramatically. The key here is that chronic hypertension can lead to a blunted response to acute changes in blood pressure, resulting in a situation where the patient may not recognize that they are experiencing a hypertensive emergency until it becomes more severe.

The other options, while they may have their own risks, do not specifically relate to the delayed response phenomenon in the same way as chronic hypertension. For instance, age or history of stroke may influence risk factors and complications rather than the body's ability to perceive changes in blood pressure.