AnastaseDZUDIE1,StanisFOWA1
1Clinical Research Education, Networking and Consultancy (CRENC)
CaHReF 2018, Yaoundé Congres hall, 08 – 11 January 2019 , OERF038
Background: Diagnosing white coat hypertension (WCH) avoids misclassification and mismanagement of patients and reduces the burden of hypertension in the cost of health care.
Objectif: We aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of WCH in newly diagnosed hypertensive patients naive to anti-hypertensive medications.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from January to April 2018 in three cardiologic units of 3 hospitals in the city of Douala. Eligible participants were requested to fill a questionnaire (enquiring on socio-democraphique characteristics and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases), before 24-hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Machine placement (ABPM). WCH was defined as an office-based BP of? 140/90 mmHg together with an average day time ambulatory BP of < 135/85 mmHg. Participant was considered physically active when he had a 30 minutes sport activity twice weekly. Univariable and multivariable analysis were carried out to determine risk factors of WCH.
Results: Of the 201 participants included (50.25% men, mean age 49 ±11 years), 24% were physically active. The mean office BP was 156/95(±11/11) mmHg and average daytime ambulatory blood pressure was 144/88(±17/13) mmHg. The prevalence of WCH was 23%. In multivariable analysis, females were more at risk to be diagnosed of the condition whereas physically active individuals were less.
Conclusion/Recommandation: The prevalence of WCH was high among newly diagnosed hypertensive patients naive to anti-hypertensive medications and this was correlated to female gender and physical activity. These patients could have been unnecessarily placed on lifelong and costly anti-hypertensive medications if ABPM was not done.
Key Words:Hypertension, WCH, ABPM