[What does general practice hypertension mean?].

Abstract

White coat hypertension means an isolated blood pressure elevation during conventional measurement in the doctor's office, while blood pressure is in the normal range outside the office over 24 hrs. The incidence is about 20-25% of all "hypertensives" identified in the office. Patients with white coat hypertension show no increased blood pressure variability outside the office, and they do not seem to be more anxious regarding psychological testing as compared with hypertensives. The white coat effect is very specific for the situation in the doctors office. The effect is more pronounced in younger and female patients. However, also in isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly the white coat effect is present to a substantial amount. Under dynamic exercise there is no different hemodynamic response in patients with white coat hypertension as compared with normotensives. Differences are however observed with regard to posture and under isometric exercise. So far, white coat hypertension seems to be a benign and harmless condition not related to an increased cardiovascular risk, which must not be treated.