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White coat hypertension and nursing care
Leila M Alves1, Maria Suely Nogueira, Eugênia Velludo Veiga
1Departamento de Enfermagem Geral e Especializada, Escola de Enfermagem Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, 14040-902, Ribeirão Preto, S.P., Brasil.
Summary
White coat hypertension, characterized by high blood pressure during doctor visits, differs from essential hypertension. Understanding these differences is crucial for accurate diagnosis and nursing practice in managing elevated blood pressure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- White coat hypertension (WCH) is defined as elevated blood pressure in a clinical setting.
- It presents a diagnostic challenge, mimicking sustained hypertension.
- Distinguishing WCH from essential hypertension is critical for appropriate patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review published studies on white coat hypertension.
- To compare morphological and behavioral characteristics of normotensive, essential hypertension, and WCH patients.
- To discuss the implications of WCH in nursing practice.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of key published studies.
- Comparative analysis of patient characteristics.
- Discussion of diagnostic and treatment implications.
Main Results:
- WCH is characterized by elevated blood pressure specifically in medical environments.
- Studies comparing WCH with essential hypertension and normotensive individuals reveal distinct characteristics.
- Home blood pressure monitoring, often correlated with nurse-taken readings, is vital for diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Accurate diagnosis of white coat hypertension requires differentiating it from sustained hypertension.
- Nursing practice plays a key role in monitoring and managing WCH due to the reliability of nurse-taken readings.
- Consideration of WCH is essential for effective hypertension diagnosis and treatment strategies.