Influence of Hypertension on the Hemodynamic Response to Exercise

Sixty-one asymptomatic hypertensive patients from 19 to 68 years of age were subjected to a progressive exercise test on a cycle ergometer. A decline in maximal oxygen consumption and cardiac output and an increase in systolic blood pressure were observed with age. These findings were similar to those observed in normal subjects. In the middle-aged (35 to 49 years) and older subjects (50 to 60 years), the systolic pressure showed a greater increase with exercise than in normals of their age, but this did not apply to subjects aged 19 to 34 years. The cardiac response to exercise was normal at rest and at all levels of exercise in the middle-aged group, but the oldest group showed a reduced maximum cardiac output. In the youngest age group, cardiac output was normal at rest but fell below normal at all levels of exercise. Maximal voluntary oxygen consumption and cardiac output were significantly reduced with increasing severity of hypertension.