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[White coat hypertension and blood pressure measurement at home]
S E Kjeldsen1, A Moan, M Rostrup
1Medisinsk klinikk, Ullevål sykehus, Oslo.
Insights
White-coat hypertension, characterized by elevated clinic blood pressure but normal home readings, is common in hypertensive individuals. Home monitoring is crucial for diagnosis and guiding treatment, as these patients typically do not require medication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Preventive Medicine
Abstract:
"White-coat" hypertension, i.e. high readings in the clinic but normal readings at home, has been demonstrated in 21-58% of hypertensive subjects without end-organ injury. The condition can be diagnosed by means of home blood pressure monitoring, which should therefore be used as a supplement to monitoring by the physician. Owing to the low blood pressure readings at home, these patients should not be treated with drugs. In the event of anti-hypertensive treatment, home blood pressure monitoring is useful in helping to decide the minimum required dose, thus reducing risk of side effects, and in monitoring the response to therapy. White coat hypertension is associated with overweight, lipid abnormalities and high fasting insulin. Owing to the high risk of developing sustained hypertension, the patients' blood pressure must be measured regularly both at the clinic and at home.