October 1, 2004American Journal of Hypertension
Reduced sympathoneural responses to the cold pressor test in individuals with essential hypertension and in those genetically predisposed to hypertensionNo support for the “pressor reactor” hypothesis of hypertension development
Key result
During the cold pressor test, MSNA increased significantly less in subjects with a family history of hypertension (32%) and hypertensive patients (12%) than in controls (103%, P<0.05).
Why the study?
Does genetic predisposition to hypertension and age influence the sympathetic nervous system response to the cold pressor test?
Population
53 subjects, including 32 young subjects and 21 older subjects.
Comparison
2-minute cold pressor test (CPT) vs Comparison between normotensive subjects with…
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
Blunted sympathetic reactivity in hypertension challenges pressor reactor hypothesis; leaves open causal direction and requires longitudinal studies.
Study Design
Type
Observational (n=53)
Structured PICO
Does genetic predisposition to hypertension and age influence the sympathetic nervous system response to the cold pressor test?
P
Population
53 young and older subjects, including normotensives with and without a family history of hypertension and hypertensive patients, evaluated during a cold pressor test.
E
Exposure
2-minute cold pressor test (CPT)
C
Comparator
Comparison between normotensive subjects with and without a family history of hypertension, and hypertensive subjects, across different age groups
O
Outcome
Changes in blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest and during the CPTsurrogate
Main Result
Absolute Event Rate: 32% vs 103%
p-value: p=<0.05
The study challenges the 'pressor reactor' hypothesis by demonstrating that individuals with hypertension or a genetic predisposition to it exhibit subnormal sympathetic responses to the cold pressor test.
Cite This Study
Markus P. Schlaich (2004) conducted an observational in Essential hypertension (n=53). Genetic predisposition to hypertension (family history) or established hypertension vs. Normotensive subjects without a family history of hypertension was evaluated on Increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) during the cold pressor test (p=<0.05). During the cold pressor test, MSNA increased significantly less in subjects with a family history of hypertension (32%) and hypertensive patients (12%) than in controls (103%, P<0.05).