P-634: Reproducibility of exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise in healthy subjects

Abstract

An exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise (ExBPR) has been shown to be predictive of future hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The aim of this study was to test the reproducibility over time of ExBPR and to better characterize subjects who consistently respond in this manner.

During periodical health examination subjects underwent routine treadmill exercise testing. ExBPR was said to be present if systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at peak exercise exceeded 200 mmHg and 100 mmHg respectively. Over the past twenty-five years 119 healthy subjects with ExBPR performed 2-7 consecutive treadmill exercise tests. According to subsequent ExBPR these subjects were divided into concordant group (CG) - those who had at least two-thirds repetitions of the ExBPR and discordant group (DG) - those who had less than two-thirds repetitions. For comparison we identified subjects who did not have ExBPR (control group).

Of the 119 subjects who had ExBPR, only 18 (15%) were in the CG in subsequent tests. No clinical features were found to characterize CG patients. In the two study groups the variability of blood pressure measurements during stress was significantly greater than in the control group. Also, SBP at rest and after three minutes of recovery were significantly lower in the control group.

Conclusions - ExBPR to exercise is rarely reproducible and there are no clinical findings characterizing those who consistently respond in this manner. Thus, the prognostic importance of blood pressure response to exercise should be reconsidered.

Stress-test, Exaggerated blood pressure response, Reproducibility