Prehypertension was associated with an augmented mean arterial pressure increase (Δ14 vs Δ10 mmHg; P<0.05) and blunted forearm vascular conductance during mental stress compared to normotension.
Cross-Sectional (n=35)
Does mental stress elicit augmented neurovascular responses in prehypertensive compared to normotensive humans?
Prehypertensive individuals exhibit an augmented pressor response to mental stress, which appears to be driven by altered forearm vascular responses rather than increased sympathetic nerve activity.
Absolute Event Rate: 14% vs 10%
p-value: p=< 0.05
Neurovascular responses to mental stress have been linked to several cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), and forearm vascular responses to mental stress are well documented in normotensive (NT) subjects, but responses in prehypertensive (PHT) subjects remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that PHT would elicit a more dramatic increase of MAP during mental stress via augmented MSNA and blunted forearm vascular conductance (FVC). We examined 17 PHT (systolic 120-139 and/or diastolic 80-89 mmHg; 22 ± 1 yr) and 18 NT (systolic < 120 and diastolic < 80 mmHg; 23 ± 2 yr) subjects. Heart rate, MAP, MSNA, FVC, and calf vascular conductance were measured during 5 min of baseline and 5 min of mental stress (mental arithmetic). Mental stress increased MAP and FVC in both groups, but the increases in MAP were augmented (Δ 10 ± 1 vs. Δ14 ± 1 mmHg; P < 0.05), and the increases in FVC were blunted (Δ95 ± 14 vs. Δ37 ± 8%; P < 0.001) in PHT subjects. Mental stress elicited similar increases in MSNA (Δ7 ± 2 vs. Δ6 ± 2 bursts/min), heart rate (Δ21 ± 3 vs. Δ18 ± 3 beats/min), and calf vascular conductance (Δ29 ± 10 vs. Δ19 ± 5%) in NT and PHT subjects, respectively. In conclusion, mental stress elicits an augmented pressor response in PHT subjects. This augmentation appears to be associated with altered forearm vascular, but not MSNA, responses to mental stress.
Schwartz et al. (2010) conducted a cross-sectional in Prehypertension (n=35). Prehypertension vs. Normotension was evaluated on Increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during mental stress (p=< 0.05). Prehypertension was associated with an augmented mean arterial pressure increase (Δ14 vs Δ10 mmHg; P<0.05) and blunted forearm vascular conductance during mental stress compared to normotension.