White Coat Hypertension vs Masked Hypertension
One causes over diagnosis and other one causes under diagnosis of hypertension. Learn the nuances of difference between both of them in next 1 minute of careful reading. Reading improves skill set. Watching reels decreases concentration span and students are not able to answer in real exam scenarios.
| Feature | White Coat Hypertension | Masked Hypertension |
| Clinic BP | High | Normal |
| Home/Ambulatory BP | Normal | High |
| Cause | Anxiety or stress during medical visits | Blood pressure elevated during daily life but normal in clinic |
| Risk of missed diagnosis | May lead to overdiagnosis | May lead to underdiagnosis |
| Cardiovascular risk | Lower than sustained hypertension but higher than normotension | Similar to sustained hypertension; significant CV risk |
| Example | Clinic 150/95 mmHg Home 120/75 mmHg |
Clinic 125/80 mmHg Home 145/90 mmHg |
| Diagnosis | HBPM or 24-hour ABPM | HBPM or 24-hour ABPM |
| Management | Lifestyle measures and follow-up; medication only if persistent hypertension develops or high risk | Treat as true hypertension with lifestyle modification and antihypertensive therapy when indicated |
Easy Memory Hack
White Coat: High blood pressure only when the doctor is watching.
Masked: Hypertension is hidden in the clinic but present in everyday life