The white coat effect (WCE), not to be confused with white coat hypertension, is a measure of change that is commonly defined as the difference between in-clinic and out-of-clinic blood pressure readings 1,2.
Alternatively, the white coat effect can be defined as the increase in the arterial blood pressure of a subject in response to the measurement of their blood pressure in a clinical setting 3.
Therefore, the implication of the white coat effect is one of higher patient blood pressure levels in office when compared to those measured out office.
The white coat effect is most noticeable in patients with severe hypertension 1.
Epidemiology
The prevalence of the white coat effect is greater in Asia and in Europe and this may be due to a genetic predisposition 4.
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