Frecuencia de hipertensión de bata blanca y sus factores de riesgo en pacientes hipertensos recién diagnosticados / White-coat hypertension and risk factors in recently diagnosed hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of white-coat hypertension (WCH) and associated risk factors in recently diagnosed hypertensive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out from January 1997 to December 1998. The reference population consisted of 195 patients presenting with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) of less than 1-month evolution and receiving no medical treatment. According to Joint National Committee (JNCVI) criteria, 100 individuals with Stages I, II, and III SAH underwent the following procedures clinical history; physical examination; electrocardiogram, serum creatinine; urianalysis, and ambulatory monitoring of arterial pressure (AMAP). RESULTS: A total of 54 of patients were WCH carriers and 46 presented sustained hypertension (SH); 37 of WCH patients and 63 of SH patients had a family history of SAH, while 19.7 of WCH patients and 39.2 of SH patients presented with stage 1 retinopathy. Left ventricular hypertrophy was absent in all WCH patients and present in 21.7 of SH patients. A total of 31 of WCH patients and 50 of SH patients presented electrocardiographic changes. CONCLUSIONS: A total of 54 of patients presented WCH. Clinical/epidemiologic profiles of WCH carriers and SH patients are different.