"White coat hypertension" in type 2 diabetic patients

INTRODUCTION: "White coat hypertension" is a phenomenon in which patients exhibit elevated blood pressure in clinical setting, but not recorded by themselves at home. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate frequency of "white coat hypertension" in type 2 diabetic patients, in which high blood pressure values in clinical setting were observed for the first time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 52 type 2 diabetic patients with newly diagnosed high blood pressure values in measurements with the use of mercurial sphygmomanometer during ambulatory visit (mean "office blood pressure" values > or =140/90 mmHg). In all patients ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) were conducted. "White coat hypertension" was detected when the mean blood pressure value in ABPM during the day was <135/85 mmHg and the mean "office blood pressure" was > or =140/90 mmHg. Arterial hypertension was detected when the mean "office blood pressure" values were > or =140/90 mmHg and the mean blood pressure value in ABPM during the day were > or =135/85 mmHg. RESULTS: In forty-four percent of the studied patients "white coat hypertension" was diagnosed (group 1). Group 2 consisted of patients with arterial hypertension (56% of all studied patients). Blood pressure values estimated on the ambulatory basis with the use of ABPM were lower in group 1 than in group 2 (p <0.05). There were no differences between the study groups in blood pressure values estimated by traditional method with the use of mercurial sphygmomanometer during clinic visit (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In above 2/5 of type 2 diabetic patients with newly detected high blood pressure during clinic visits, "white coat hypertension" was diagnosed.