Related Experiment Videos
[Is white-coat hypertension a disease?]
1Service de cardiologie, Hôpital de la Tour, Meyrin, Genève.
Praxis
|January 7, 1997
Summary
White-coat hypertension, a condition where blood pressure is high only in clinical settings, often progresses to permanent hypertension. Individuals with this condition require lifestyle changes and regular monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Clinical Medicine
Context:
- White-coat hypertension (WCH) is characterized by elevated blood pressure readings in a medical setting but normal readings outside of it.
- Previous research suggests WCH individuals fall between normotensive and hypertensive groups, with potential for subtle metabolic or echocardiographic changes.
- The long-term prognosis and evolution of WCH remain incompletely understood.
Purpose:
- To investigate the long-term outcomes of individuals diagnosed with white-coat hypertension.
- To determine the rate of progression from WCH to sustained hypertension.
Summary:
- A retrospective study followed 63 individuals with WCH (office hypertension, normal ambulatory blood pressure monitoring) for an average of 5.4 years.
- Over half of the participants developed permanent hypertension during the follow-up period.
- The majority of those who progressed required antihypertensive medication.
Impact:
- White-coat hypertension may serve as a predictive factor for the development of sustained hypertension.
- Individuals with WCH warrant lifestyle modifications and consistent blood pressure monitoring to manage future cardiovascular risk.