Blood pressure and heart rate of students undergoing a medical licensing examination

AIMS: To assess the effect of a real life mental stress situation on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in students undergoing a medical licensing examination. METHOD: Prospective observational study of 121 medical students taking the final licensing exam. BP and HR were taken before and after the exam. Additionally, BP was measured by ambulatory BP monitoring device and HR was recorded continuously by an HR monitor belt in 25 students throughout the examination. MAJOR FINDINGS: Diastolic BP (DBP) increased from 81 +/- 10 mmHg before the exam to 86 +/- 9 mmHg (p = 0.008) during the exam and to 88 +/- 11 mmHg, (p = 0.007) 15 min after the exam. Systolic BP (SBP) did not increase significantly during (from 131 +/- 14 before the exam to 136 +/- 18 mmHg) and after the exam (135 +/- 16 mmHg). HR decreased during (to 100 +/- 18 beats/min, p < 0.001), and after the exam (to 95 +/- 19 beats/min, p < 0.001) compared to values before the exam (114 +/- 19 beats/min). SBP was higher in male students compared to female students before (138 +/- 10 vs 125 +/- 18 mmHg) and after (126 +/- 18 vs 115 +/- 17 mmHg) the exam (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Only DBP increased during medical licensing examination, albeit within a small range. SBP did not change significantly and HR decreased during the exam. Male students showed a higher SBP compared to female students.