Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise in normotensive subjects was associated with a 41% prevalence of masked hypertension, with peak exercise DBP identified as an independent predictor.
Observational (n=61)
Is exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise associated with masked hypertension in normotensive subjects?
Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise, particularly elevated diastolic blood pressure at peak exercise, is a strong indicator of masked hypertension in otherwise normotensive individuals.
Masked hypertension (MHT) is a popular entity with increased risk of developing sustained hypertension, heart attack, stroke, and death. Subjects have normal blood pressure (BP) at office but elevated values at night so it is difficult to diagnose. Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise (EBPR) is also a predictor of future hypertension. To investigate the relationship between these two entities, we evaluated 61 normotensive subjects with EBPR. The subjects underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). The prevalence of masked hypertension among subjects with EBPR was 41%. Body mass index (BMI), non-high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at peak exercise and recovery, nondipping DBP pattern, and elevated early morning average BPs were associated with masked hypertension. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the DBP measured at peak exercise was detected as an independent predictor of MHT in subjects with EBPR. Subjects with abnormally elevated BP during exercise are prone to MHT, necessitate medical assessment and close follow-up for hypertension.
Kayrak et al. (2010) conducted an observational in Normotension with exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise (n=61). Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise (exposure) was evaluated on Prevalence of masked hypertension. Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise in normotensive subjects was associated with a 41% prevalence of masked hypertension, with peak exercise DBP identified as an independent predictor.