[Decisions and therapeutic attitudes for patients with white coat hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze the different therapeutic attitudes towards patients with arterial hypertension (AH) or white coat hypertension (WCH).


METHODS
Longitudinal, retrospective study after performing a 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring of ABPM.


METHODS
Urban health center.


METHODS
Eighty-six patients aged over 15 years, not treated and with figures of a poor blood pressure control (> 140 and/or > 90 mmHg), followed for a mean of four years.


METHODS
Initial 24-h ABPM (SpaceLabs 90202-90207). DETERMINATIONS AND MAIN RESULTS: After ABPM 43 patients were classified as having WCH and 43 patients AH. Both groups were comparable. Pharmacologic treatment was begun from 41.9% (n = 18) of WCH and 88.4% (n = 38) of AH (p < 0.001) patients with a delay, after ABPM, of 19 months (SD 22) and 1.2 months (SD 3.2), respectively (p < 0.01). At the end of the follow-up period patients with AH had more target organs involved.


CONCLUSIONS
The information provided by ABPM probably entails a more conservative approach at the beginning of pharmacologic treatment.
Vinyoles Bargalló
E
E
Medicina de Familia, Centro de Atención Primaria Universitario La Mina, San Adrián del Besós, Barcelona.
Garaikoetxea Iturriria
A
A
Ibernón López
M
M
Sancho Muñoz
S
S
Díaz de Sarralde
B
B
de la Figuera von Wichmann
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents