Association of early systolic blood pressure response to exercise with future cardiovascular events in patients with uncomplicated mild-to-moderate hypertension

300 patients newly diagnosed with mild-to-moderate sustained hypertension (sHT) without complications, mean age 50.4, 56.7% male, from a Korean registry. Key exclusions: history of coronary artery disease or stroke, symptomatic congestive heart failure, failure to achieve target heart rate, or stage 3 hypertension.

High early systolic blood pressure (SBP) response during exercise treadmill test (Naughton/Balke protocol) at 8 minutes (stage 4, 7.4 METs), defined as the upper quartiles (Q3/Q4) or SBP >180 mm Hg.

Low early systolic blood pressure (SBP) response during exercise treadmill test at 8 minutes (lower quartiles Q1/Q2 or SBP ≤180 mm Hg).

Composite of all-cause death, new-onset ischemic heart disease, and stroke at a median follow-up of 66 months.composite