Blood pressure response during treadmill exercise testing and the risk for future cardiovascular events and new-onset
Barak Zafrir1,2, Amir Aker1, Yosi Asaf2
1Department of Cardiology, Lady Davis Carmel Medical Center.
Objective:
The physiologic response to exercise may provide valuable prognostic information. We investigated the association of blood pressure (BP) measurements during exercise stress testing (EST) with long-term risk of myocardial infarction, stroke or death (major adverse cardiovascular event, MACE), as well as the development of new-onset hypertension.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis of treadmill ESTs (years 2005-2019) performed by the Bruce protocol in patients aged 35-75 years without a history of cardiovascular disease (n = 14 792; 48% women). BP was documented at rest, submaximal exercise (Bruce stage-2), peak exercise and recovery (2 min). Association of SBP measures with study outcomes during median follow-up of 6.5 years was investigated.
Results:
Highest vs. lowest SBP quartile at rest (≥140 vs. <120 mmHg), submaximal-exercise (≥170 vs. <130 mmHg), peak-exercise (≥180 vs. ≤145 mmHg) and recovery (≥160 vs. <130 mmHg) was associated with an increase in the adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) for MACE: 1.53 (1.23-1.88), 1.33 (1.01-1.76), 1.30 (1.05-1.61), 1.35 (1.09-1.68), respectively. The association between SBP at submaximal exercise and recovery with MACE displayed a J-shaped pattern. Among nonhypertensive patients (n = 8529), excessive SBP response to peak exercise (≥190 mmHg in women and ≥210 mmHg in men) was an independent predictor of hypertension [hazard ratio (95% CI)]: 1.87 (1.41-2.48), as were SBPs during submaximal exercise [>160 vs. ≤130 mmHg: 2.44 (1.97-3.03)] and recovery [≥140 vs. ≤120 mmHg: 1.65 (1.37-1.98)].
Conclusion:
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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Monitoring Both Arms:
Monitoring BP in both arms during the initial assessment is advisable, as the systolic value may differ by five to ten mm Hg between arms. For subsequent BP assessments, use the arm with the higher reading.