Blood Pressure During Exercise Stress Test Can Predict Incidence of Hypertension & CV Events

Key findings of the study were:

♦ They observed an increase in the adjusted hazard ratio for MACE (major adverse cardiovascular event) in relation to the highest vs lowest systolic blood pressure (SBP) quartile at

• Rest (≥140 vs <120 mmHg): HR 1.53,
• Submaximal-exercise (≥170 vs. <130 mmHg): HR 1.33,
• Peak-exercise (≥180 vs. ≤145 mmHg): HR 1.30 and
• Recovery (≥160 vs. <130 mmHg): HR 1.35, respectively.

♦ They observed a J-shaped pattern of the link between SBP at submaximal exercise and recovery with MACE.

♦ Among nonhypertensive patients (n = 8529), they found that the excessive SBP response to peak exercise (≥190 mmHg in women and ≥210 mmHg in men) was an independent predictor of hypertension [hazard ratio]: 1.87.

♦ They further noted a similar association with SBPs during submaximal exercise [>160 vs ≤130 mmHg: 2.44] and recovery [≥140 vs ≤120 mmHg: 1.65].

The authors concluded, "BP measurement during rest, exercise and recovery phases of EST provides incremental prognostic information regarding long-term risk for cardiovascular events and the probability for developing hypertension."

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DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000002991