April 1, 1991Hypertension
Independence of pressure reactivity from pressure levels in Tecumseh, Michigan.
Why the study?
Is baseline blood pressure level associated with blood pressure reactivity to mental and physical stress in adults?
Population
289 adults (169 men, 120 women), average age 32.3 years, from Tecumseh, Michigan.
Design
Cohort
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
Stress BP reactivity independent of baseline levels; leaves open distinct prognostic contributions to CV morbidity.
Key Points
- To determine whether baseline blood pressure levels and borderline hypertension correlate with cardiovascular reactivity to mental and physical stressors.
- Evaluated 289 participants (169 men and 120 women; average age, 32.3 years) from a community cohort.
- Assessed blood pressure responses during mental arithmetic and isometric exercise, comparing results to baseline clinic measurements and historical blood pressure records spanning ages 5 to 22 years.
- Baseline blood pressure showed no statistically significant correlation with blood pressure reactivity to either mental arithmetic or isometric exercise across the total population.
- Participants with borderline hypertension (clinic readings >140 mm Hg systolic or >90 mm Hg diastolic) exhibited normal stress reactivity despite having elevated blood pressure readings documented since age 5.
- Hyperreactors to mental and physical stress (blood pressure response above the 80th percentile) had normal baseline blood pressures, similar clinic-to-home blood pressure differences, and normal blood pressure profiles throughout childhood.
Structured PICO
Is baseline blood pressure level associated with blood pressure reactivity to mental and physical stress in adults?
P
Population
289 adults (169 men, 120 women), average age 32.3 years, from Tecumseh, Michigan.
I
Intervention
Mental arithmetic and isometric exercise (stressors)
O
Outcome
Correlation between baseline blood pressure and blood pressure response to stressorssurrogate
Blood pressure reactivity to mental and physical stress is independent of baseline blood pressure levels, suggesting they may have separate effects on cardiovascular morbidity.
Cite This Study
Julius et al. (1991) studied this question.