The Effect of Age and Sex on White-coat Hypertension

The incidence of "white-coat hypertension" was investigated by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in 300 hypertensive patients whose systolic blood pressure were between 140-160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure were between 90-105 mmHg during the first office examination. The average incidence was 18 per cent, significantly higher in women (23.4 %) than men (12.5 %) in the same age groups. Though the incidence was similar in men of all ages, it was 26.4 % in women below 40 years of age and 20.9 % in women older than 40 years (p<0.05). Physicians should keep in mind the diagnosis of white-coat hypertension when hypertension is diagnosed during the first office examination.