[Prognostic significance of exercise-induced hypertension]

The significance of exercise-induced hypertensive blood pressure values is poorly known. The present study has looked for a correlation between hypertensive systolic blood pressure values on exercise in a normotensive population and later development of hypertension at rest. After elimination of patients with hypertension at rest and of patients lost to the follow-up, this study includes 74 normotensive subjects who had developed exertional hypertension (blood pressure superior to 220/95 mmHg) during exercise testing. At the end of an average follow-up of six years, 40.5% of these patients are showing hypertension at rest. Thus hypertensive blood pressure values on exercise in a normotensive subject is an important finding. It should lead to an adaptation of diet and life style and to regular blood pressure controls.