Differences in behavior profile between normotensive subjects and patients with white-coat and sustained hypertension

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 1999

Authors

coelho, r (Author) Other; santos, a (Author) FCNAUP; ribeiro, l (Author) Other; gama, g (Author) Other; prata, j (Author) Other; barros, h (Author) FMUP; polonia, j (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Psychosomatic Research

Vol. 46

Pages: 15-27

ISSN: 0022-3999

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 17 Citations

Scopus - 19 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-5XG

DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3999(98)00054-3

Abstract (EN): It has been hypothesized that white-coat hypertensives (WCHs) have lower cardiovascular risk than sustained hypertensives (HTs), but higher emotional reactivity. We evaluated 92 HT patients (clinic and daytime BP>140/90 mmHg), 52 WCHs (clinic BP>140/90 and ambulatory daytime BP<134/85 mmHg), and 74 normotensive subjects (NTs, clinic BP<140/90 and ambulatory daytime BP<134/85 mmHg), aged between 24 and 72 years, and matched for educational level, age, gender, and weight for depression, psychopathology, well-being, and quality of life. HTs showed worse scores than WCHs and NTs on most of the psychological variables; no differences were found between WCHs and NTs except on physical mobility. Daytime BP variability was HTs>WCHs>NTs, whereas nighttime BP variability was HTs>WCHs=NTs. We conclude that HTs have worse psychological profiles than the other two groups. WCHs and NTs have similar psychological profiles, although WCHs have a higher daytime BP variability, which is not associated with higher emotional reactivity. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13