Physiological characteristics and hormonal profile of young normotensive men with exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise

Abstract

Exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise in normotensive subjects is considered as a predictor of future hypertension. The aim of the study was to find out whether elevated BP response to exercise is associated with any other haemodynamic, metabolic or hormonal abnormalities. Abnormal BP response to exercise, i.e. systolic BP (SBP) > 200 mmHg at 150 W or lower workload, was found in 37 out of 180 normotensive, male students, aged 20-24 years. Fifteen students with elevated exercise BP (group E) volunteered for further examinations. Their resting and ambulatory BP showed high normal values. Eight of them had a family history of hypertension. Four subjects met the criteria of cardiac hypertrophy. Significant correlations were found between exercise SBP and left ventricular mass index, average 24 h and daytime SBP recordings. In comparison with normal subjects of the same age (group N, n = 13), those from group E did not differ in body mass index, plasma lipid profile, fasting glucose, insulin and catecholamine (CA) concentrations, but had increased erythrocyte sodium content, slightly elevated plasma renin activity and cortisol level. During exercise, E subjects showed greater cardiac output (CO) increases with normal heart rate, total peripheral resistance (TPR) and plasma CA. There were no significant differences between groups in haemodynamic and plasma CA responses to posture change from supine to standing. Glucose ingestion (75 g) caused smaller increases in CO and smaller decreases in TPR in E than in N subjects without differences in BP, blood glucose plasma insulin and CA. It is concluded that young normotensive men with exaggerated BP response to exercise show some other characteristics that may be considered as markers of predisposition to hypertension or factors promoting the development of hypertension.

Impaired Glucose Metabolism and the Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response to Exercise Treadmill Testing in Normotensive Patients

“…Fitness level and ambulatory systolic BP were associated with EXBPR to exercise in line with previous studies, [25][26][27] whereas resting BP was Abbreviations: bpm, beats per minute; EXBPR, exaggerated blood pressure response; HR, heart rate; recovery DBP (3 minutes), diastolic blood pressure at the end of the third minute of recovery; recovery HR, heart rate at the end of the third minute of recovery; recovery SBP (3 minutes), systolic blood pressure at the end of the third minute of recovery; stage 2 SBP, systolic blood pressure during the second stage of exercise. Values are mean AE standard deviation.…”

“…In contrast with our results, a previous study found that the EXBPR to exercise was not associated with impaired glucose metabolism in 28 nonsmoking healthy male students, a finding possibly explained by the differences in exercise testing methodology and clinical characteristics with respect to our study. 25 We preliminarily excluded patients with increased LVMI to warrant associations not complicated by established left ventricular hypertrophy, a known positive correlate of EXBPR to exercise. 26 Finally, in our study, the association between age and EXBPR to exercise faded away in the multivariable analysis because (1) we implemented sex-and age-adjusted criteria to define the exercise BP response and (2) we preliminary excluded patients unable to reach the second stage of the standardized test as well as patients 60 years and older.…”

Monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial e pressão casual em hiper-reatores ao esforço

“…The SAP mean as well as SPL in wakefulness and SPL in 24 hours were significantly higher in the HR group, although within the reference range, confirming the findings by Nazar et al 23 , who observed an association between SAP at stress with the 24-hour mean and SAP during wakefulness. These results reinforce the hypothesis of a sympathetic hyperreactivity in HR individuals 4 , corroborated by the elevation of the diurnal parameters and their normality during sleep.…”

Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response to Exercise Is Not Associated With Masked Hypertension in Patients With High Normal Blood Pressure Levels

“…In this subgroup, ExBPR is not useful to identify masked hypertension. However, it is still possible that in young patients with low BP levels, ExBPR is associated with masked hypertension, as has been previously described . In our population, we could not identify risk factors for masked hypertension.…”