Comparison of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Parameters in Patients with White Coat Hypertension Versus Normotensive Subjects and Untreated Hypertensive Patients

Parameters in Patients with White Coat Hypertension Versus Normotensive Subjects and Untreated Hypertensive Patients M. C emri, U. Hodoğlugil, M. Ceyhan, D. Bar/as, H. Dörtlemez, H. Zengil White coat hypertension is defined to be present when an individual is hypertensive in the physician's office, but normotensive when their blood pressure (BP) is measured with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). To assess the elinical importance of the white coat hypertension, we aimed to compare ambulatory blood pressure parameters in patients with white coat hypertension versus normotensive subjects and untreated hypertensive patients. The study was carried out on 96 hypertensive patients (57 F, 39 M; mean age: 51±1.3 years) and 132 normotensive subjects (101 F, 31 M; m ean age 41.4± 1.0) according to office measurements. After office BP measurements were recorded 3-4 times, ABPM was applied for 48 hours to each subject. We calculated 48-hour of, day and night mean load (proportion of elevated BP over a certain Jimit for a period) values for systolic and diastolic BPs. Of the 96 hypertensive patients, 20 (20.8%) had white coat hypertension (12 F, 8 M; mean age: 52.9±3.7 years) and 76 had sustained hypertension. Although 48-hour day and night mean and load values for systolic and diastolic BPs in patients with white coat hypertension were significantly lower than in those with sustained hypertension, they usere significantly higher than in normotensive subjects. These results suggest that white coat hypertension may be of elinical importance.