Table 1.

Associated features of normotension, white coat syndrome, and hypertension

Features	Normotension	White coat effect	White coat hypertension	Masked hypertension	Hypertension
					Within normal BP limits	Exceeding normal BP limits
Office BP levels	≤120/80 mmHg16	>20/10 mmHg when compared to home measurements14	≥140/90 mmHg38	<140/90 mmHg38	<140/90 mmHg16	≥140/90 mmHg15
24 hours ABPM levels	<130/80 mmHg16	<130/80 mmHg14	<130/80 mmHg38	≥130/80 mmHg38	<130/80 mmHg16	≥130/80 mmHg15
HBPM levels	<135/85 mmHg16	≤135/85 mmHg14	<135/85 mmHg38	≥135/85 mmHg38	<135/85 mmHg16	≥135/85 mmHg15
Clinical characteristics	–	Higher heart rate levels and BP non-dipping condition17	Higher in female sex, obese, and it seems to increase with respect to age24	Increased risk of atherosclerotic CVD,41 morbidity, and mortality for CVD43,44	Sustained elevated BP levels are related to the development of TOD and, consequently, increased CV risk25
Target organ damage	–	Low relationship with TOD development;22 correlation with arterial stiffness20,21	Correlation with arterial stiffness28 and LVH34	Presents a higher risk of developing TOD than other phenomena but less risk than hypertensive11	LVH, diastolic dysfunction, carotid intima-media thickening or plaque, renal damage, and micro- as well as macro-vascular alterations24

Abbreviations: ABPM, ambulatory BP monitoring; BP, blood pressure; CV, cardiovascular risk; CVD, cardiovascular disease; HBPM, home BP monitoring; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; TOD, target organ damage.