Elevated screening blood pressure in healthy young men is associated with increased sympathetic activity, higher fasting glucose (p=0.01), and lower insulin sensitivity (p<0.005).
Cross-Sectional (n=120)
Is high screening blood pressure related to sympathetic nervous system activity and insulin resistance in healthy young men?
A single screening blood pressure measurement in healthy young men predicts insulin resistance, elevated fasting glucose, and increased sympathetic activity.
Effect estimate: R2 0.10
p-value: p=<0.05
The cardiovascular metabolic syndrome is characterized by the presence of several cardiovascular risk factors, including blood pressure (BP) elevation. We aimed to study the relation between mental stress, plasma catecholamines, BP and BP responses to mental stress in healthy young Caucasian men selected from different levels of screening BP. We included 98 men with high and 22 men with normal screening BP. They were examined at baseline in the laboratory, during a hyperinsulinemic, isoglycemic glucose clamp and during mental stress. At baseline in the laboratory, the men with high screening BP were characterized by elevated BP (p < 0.005) and plasma catecholamines (p < 0.05), but unaltered serum lipid levels compared to men with normal screening BP. After 2 h rest the differences almost disappeared, but could be reproduced during a mental arithmetic stress test. The men with elevated screening BP had significantly higher fasting glucose (p = 0.01) and lower insulin sensitivity (p < 0.005). In a multiple regression model, norepinephrine during mental stress (R2 = 0.10, p < 0.05) was the main variable to retrospectively explain allocation to the normal or high screening BP group. In conclusion, young healthy men with elevated screening BP are characterized by increased sympathetic activity and insulin resistance. Norepinephrine during mental stress is the main variable to explain allocation to the normal or elevated screening BP group. We have shown that one single screening BP measurement predicts insulin resistance and elevated fasting glucose in this cohort.
Fossum et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in High screening blood pressure (n=120). High screening blood pressure vs. Normal screening blood pressure was evaluated on Allocation to normal or high screening blood pressure group explained by norepinephrine during mental stress (R2 0.10, p=<0.05). Elevated screening blood pressure in healthy young men is associated with increased sympathetic activity, higher fasting glucose (p=0.01), and lower insulin sensitivity (p<0.005).