JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

White-coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH) can increase the risk of target organ damage. Home blood pressure monitoring is an important method for detecting WCH and MH. However, the prevalence and risk factors of WCH and MH in China has been rarely reported.

Objective:

To explore the prevalence and risk factors associated with white coat hypertension (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH) in Shunde District, Southern China.

Methods:

This study recruited subjects from the Physical Examination Center in Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University. Office blood pressure and home blood pressure values were collected. The prevalence of WCH and MH was calculated by combining the office blood pressure and home blood pressure values. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore the related risk factors for WCH and MH.

Results:

Four-hundred and sixty-one participants (61% male), with an average age of 49 years, were included. The incidence of WCH and MH was 5.1% and 15.2%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that smoking (OR=4.71, 95%CI=1.05-21.15) and family history of coronary heart disease (OR=4.51, 95%CI=1.08-18.93) were associated with higher odds of WCH. The associated factors for higher odds of MH were smoking (OR=2.83, 95%CI=1.11-7.23), family history of hypertension (OR=2.17, 95%CI=1.11-4.26) and family history of coronary heart disease (OR=2.82, 95%CI=1.07-7.45).

Conclusions:

WCH and MH are highly prevalent in the health check-up population in Southern China. Out-of-office blood pressure monitoring, especially home blood pressure monitoring with a telemedicine device should be recommended to identity abnormal BP phenotype. Clinical Trial: It has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry(ChiCTR1800018515)