What does the term "white coat syndrome" refer to in a medical context?

The term "white coat syndrome" refers specifically to the phenomenon where a patient's blood pressure readings are elevated when taken in a clinical setting, typically due to anxiety or stress associated with being in a doctor's office or hospital environment. This reaction is often attributed to the presence of medical staff, the clinical environment, or the anticipation of being evaluated, leading to a temporary increase in blood pressure.

Understanding this concept is crucial because it highlights the importance of differentiating between true hypertension and transient elevations in blood pressure that can occur due to situational stress. Clinicians may need to consider alternative monitoring methods, such as home blood pressure monitoring or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements, to obtain a more accurate assessment of a patient's blood pressure in their everyday life.