What is the best way to identify patients with white-coat hypertension?

Abstract

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is currently the gold standard for detecting patients with white-coat hypertension. Women and all patients with lower office systolic blood pressures, stage I hypertension, and no target organ damage are more likely to have white-coat hypertension (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, based on prospective cohort studies). Self or home blood pressure monitoring has also been used to detect patients with white-coat hypertension. However, it has a low sensitivity (61%-68%) and low positive predictive value (PV+) (33%-48%) (SOR: B, short-term prospective cohort studies).