[Is prevalence of the "white coat effect" correlated with a high risk of late diabetic complications in type 2 diabetic patients?].

BACKGROUND On the ground of existing hitherto reports it is suggested that the "white coat effect" is not correlated with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. Conducted studies did not ascertain a correlation between the value of the "white coat effect" and late diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of late diabetic complications: polyneuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy in type 2 diabetic, hypertensive patients, in which the "white coat effect" was detected. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study comprised 67 type 2 diabetic, hypertensive patients. In all cases blood count, creatinine and urea serum concentration, urine examination, kidney ultrasonography were performed as well as neurological and ophtalmological examinations. Blood pressure values were measured with the use of mercurial sphygmomanometer during clinic visits. In all patients ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) were conducted. The "white coat effect" was detected when mean "systolic office blood pressure" values were > 10 mmHg higher than mean systolic blood pressure in ABPM-day and mean "diastolic office blood pressure" values were > 5 mmHg higher than mean diastolic blood pressure in ABPM-day. RESULTS The patients were devided into two groups depending on the presence of the "white coat effect". Group 1 (n = 41) consisted of patients with the "white coat effect" and the second group (n = 26) without this phenomen. There were differences between the studied groups in systolic and diastolic blood pressure values estimated by traditional blood pressure measurement during clinic visits (p < 0.05). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure values estimated in ambulatory conditions with the use of ABPM were comparable in both groups (p > 0.05). The number of late diabetic complications in patients did not differ in both of the studied groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The "white coat effect" has not got an influence on polyneuropathy, retinopathy and nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients with arterial hypertension.