Published in:
01-12-2015 | Original Article
White coat hypertension and obstructive sleep apnea
Published in: Sleep and Breathing | Issue 4/2015
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Purpose
This study aimed to determine blood pressure characteristics and long-term progress in patients with white coat hypertension (WCH) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Methods
Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and sleep test results over a period of 26 months were analyzed from WCH patients with OSA (n = 28), WCH patients (n = 23), and healthy control subjects (n = 27).
Results
At the end of observation, WCH patients with OSA presented significantly increased daytime and nighttime BP and lower diurnal difference of SBP (all Ps < 0.05) and the increased rate of “non-dipper” status (SBP 28.6 %, DBP 32.1 %) was significantly higher when compared with WCH and control groups (all Ps < 0.01). Sustained hypertension was observed in 42.8 % of the WCH patients with OSA, which was significantly higher than that in the WCH and control groups (Ps < 0.01) and was predicted by non-dipper status via 24-h ambulatory SBP/DBP monitoring (Ps < 0.05).
Conclusion
WCH may represent a prehypertension status, which could develop into sustained hypertension with OSA.