Prevalence of hypertension and related factors among suspected hypertensive medical personnel during COVID-19 vaccination.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted widespread opportunistic screening, identifying numerous individuals with implemental hypertension (IH), particularly among medical personnel. However, the true prevalence of sustained hypertension (SH) versus white coat hypertension (WCH) in this high-stress context remains poorly defined. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of WCH, demonstrating the critical role of digital hypertension tools. This cross-sectional study enrolled 200 medical personnel at Srinagarind Hospital (April-July 2021) with a screening clinic BP ≥ 140/90 mmHg and no prior HT diagnosis. All participants performed 7-day home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) for definitive diagnosis. SH was defined as an average home BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg, and WCH as <135/85 mmHg. Multivariate logistic regression identified predictive factors. Among 200 participants (71% female, median age 45.0 years), a striking 80% (n = 160) had WCH, while only 20% (n = 40) had SH. Female gender was an independent predictor of WCH (adjusted OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.09-6.02), whereas older age, higher BMI, and a family history of HT were independent predictors of SH. In conclusion, the vast majority of medical personnel with implemental hypertension had WCH, revealing a profound white coat effect. This finding serves as a critical warning for IH programs, highlighting that without systematic confirmation via digital tools like HBPM, such initiatives risk widespread misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.