Association of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Response to Graded Exercise Test with Left Atrial Volume Index and Pulse Wave Velocity

Background: Exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response to exercise can be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. The purpose of this study was to define the factor that effect on early systolic BP response to exercise. Methods: We examined echocardiographic data, BP, heart rate from graded exercise test and brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) of 205 patients (137 men and 68 women; mean age 58 11 years; range, 19 to 83 years). Graded exercise test was conducted in BRUCE protocol. We define delta systolic blood pressure (SBP) as systolic BRUCE stage "n" BP minus baseline BP. Results: Resting BP (127 16 mm Hg) was elevated to 171 26 mm Hg after peak graded exercise test. Resting heart rate (80 15 bpm) was increased to 146 27 bpm after peak graded exercise test. Stepwise regression test between baseline SBP, delta SBP, maximal SBP and left atrial volume index (LAVI) was done. Supine SBP, delta SBP, maximal SBP was not associated with LAVI (p > 0.5). But increased LAVI was significantly associated with delta SBP1 in woman (R 2 = 0.192, p = 0.002). PWV was significantly associated with base line (R 2 = 0.311, p < 0.01) and maximal SBP (R 2 = 0.051, p < 0.01). However, PWV was not associated with delta SBP. Conclusions: LAVI and PWV were not associated with early SBP response to exercise. But in women, elevation of early SBP during exercise is associated with LAVI.