Athletes in the lowest SBP/MET slope quartile (<4.3 mmHg/MET) had the lowest maximum systolic blood pressure (180±13 mmHg) and achieved the highest relative workload (4.2±1 W/kg) (p<0.001).
Cross-Sectional (n=142)
Does the workload-indexed blood pressure response (SBP/MET slope) correlate with maximum systolic blood pressure and workload achieved in professional indoor athletes?
The SBP/MET slope during exercise testing may help distinguish normal from exaggerated blood pressure responses and identify athletes at risk for hypertension.
p-value: p=<0.001
BACKGROUND: Exercise testing is performed regularly in professional athletes. However, the blood pressure response (BPR) to exercise is rarely investigated in this cohort, and normative upper thresholds are lacking. Recently, a workload-indexed BPR (increase in systolic blood pressure per increase in metabolic equivalent of task (SBP/MET slope)) was evaluated in a general population and was compared with mortality. We sought to evaluate the SBP/MET slope in professional athletes and compare it with performance. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 142 male professional indoor athletes (age 26 ± 5 years) were examined. Blood pressure was measured at rest and during a standardized, graded cycle ergometer test. We assessed the BPR during exercise, the workload, and the metabolic equivalent of task (MET). Athletes were divided into groups according to their SBP/MET slope quartiles (I 6.2-9; IV >9 mmHg/MET) and compared regarding systolic BP (sBP) and workload achieved. RESULTS: Athletes in group I (n = 42) had the lowest maximum sBP (180 ± 13 mmHg) but achieved the highest relative workload (4.2 ± 1 W/kg). With increasing SBP/MET slope, the maximum sBP increased (II (n = 56): 195 ± 15 mmHg; III (n = 44): 216 ± 16 mmHg) and the workload achieved decreased (II: 3.9 ± 0.7 W/kg; III: 3.3 ± 0.5 W/kg). The differences in sBP between these groups were significant (p 9 mmHg/MET). CONCLUSION: Athletes in the lowest SBP/MET slope quartile displayed the lowest maximum sBP but achieved a higher workload than athletes classified into the other SBP/MET slope groups. This simple, novel metric might help to distinguish a normal from an exaggerated BPR to exercise, to identify athletes at risk of developing hypertension.
Bauer et al. (Thu,) conducted a cross-sectional in professional indoor athletes (n=142). SBP/MET slope (workload-indexed blood pressure response) vs. Different SBP/MET slope quartiles was evaluated on maximum systolic blood pressure and workload achieved (p=<0.001). Athletes in the lowest SBP/MET slope quartile (<4.3 mmHg/MET) had the lowest maximum systolic blood pressure (180±13 mmHg) and achieved the highest relative workload (4.2±1 W/kg) (p<0.001).