Aim: Higher systolic exercise blood pressure (BP) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in hypertension. We aimed at identifying covariates of systolic exercise BP in overweight subjects.
Methods: 77 subjects with body mass index (BMI) > 27 kg/m(2) and without known heart disease were tested. BP was measured by sphygmomanometry before and at all exercise stages during maximal exercise capacity testing on a treadmill. High peak systolic exercise BP was defined as ≥ 200 mmHg.
Results: The study population was 48 ± 10 years and included 60% women and 42% with known hypertension. Average BMI was 32.6 ± 4.8 kg/m(2) and clinic BP 132/82 ± 17/8 mmHg. High systolic exercise BP was found in 32%. Subjects with high systolic exercise BP had higher systolic clinic and 24-h ambulatory BP (ABP), as well as lower peak oxygen uptake, compared with subjects with normal systolic exercise BP (all p < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis known hypertension (β = 0.33), higher systolic ABP (β = 0.22) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level (β = 0.23, all p < 0.05) predicted higher systolic exercise BP independent of sex and peak oxygen uptake (multiple R(2) = 0.32, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Among overweight subjects, known hypertension, higher systolic ABP and HDL-cholesterol level were the most important factors predicting higher systolic exercise BP.
Keywords: Ambulatory blood pressure; exercise blood pressure; hypertension; obesity; overweight.