White coat effect and its clinical implications in the elderly.

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency and correlated factors of white coat effect (WCE) in the elderly. Geriatric patients who were known as normotensive and office BP exceeding 140/90 mmHg underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Correlation of WCE with clinical parameters, geriatric assessment scales, co-existing diseases, and laboratory results were analyzed. Within 61 patients 72.1% were diagnosed as white coat hypertension (WCH). Independent correlates of systolic WCE were activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living scores, creatinine; independent correlate of diastolic WCE was Geriatric Depression Scale score. White coat hypertension constitutes a major part of office-detected hypertension in geriatric patients. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring should be performed on geriatric patients with office-measured hypertension in order to avoid overtreatment.