Dataset Information

Exaggerated Exercise Blood Pressure as a Marker of Baroreflex Dysfunction in Normotensive Metabolic Syndrome Patients.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise (EEBP = SBP ≥ 190 mmHg for women and ≥210 mmHg for men) during cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) is a predictor of cardiovascular risk. Sympathetic hyperactivation and decreased baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) seem to be involved in the progression of metabolic syndrome (MetS) to cardiovascular disease.

Objective

To test the hypotheses: (1) MetS patients within normal clinical blood pressure (BP) may present EEBP response to maximal exercise and (2) increased muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) and reduced BRS are associated with this impairment.

Methods

We selected MetS (ATP III) patients with normal BP (MetS_NT, n = 27, 59.3% males, 46.1 ± 7.2 years) and a control group without MetS (C, n = 19, 48.4 ± 7.4 years). We evaluated BRS for increases (BRS+) and decreases (BRS-) in spontaneous BP and HR fluctuations, MSNA (microneurography), BP from ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and auscultatory BP during CPET.

Results

Normotensive MetS (MetS_NT) had higher body mass index and impairment in all MetS risk factors when compared to the C group. MetS_NT had higher peak systolic BP (SBP) (195 ± 17 vs. 177 ± 24 mmHg, P = 0.007) and diastolic BP (91 ± 11 vs. 79 ± 10 mmHg, P = 0.001) during CPET than C. Additionally, we found that MetS patients with normal BP had lower spontaneous BRS- (9.6 ± 3.3 vs. 12.2 ± 4.9 ms/mmHg, P = 0.044) and higher levels of MSNA (29 ± 6 vs. 18 ± 4 bursts/min, P < 0.001) compared to C. Interestingly, 10 out of 27 MetS_NT (37%) showed EEBP (MetS_NT+), whereas 2 out of 19 C (10.5%) presented (P = 0.044). The subgroup of MetS_NT with EEBP (MetS_NT+, n = 10) had similar MSNA (P = 0.437), but lower BRS+ (P = 0.039) and BRS- (P = 0.039) compared with the subgroup without EEBP (MetS_NT-, n = 17). Either office BP or BP from ABPM was similar between subgroups MetS_NT+ and MetS_NT-, regardless of EEBP response. In the MetS_NT+ subgroup, there was an association of peak SBP with BRS- (R = -0.70; P = 0.02), triglycerides with peak SBP during CPET (R = 0.66; P = 0.039), and of triglycerides with BRS- (R = 0.71; P = 0.022).

Conclusion

Normotensive MetS patients already presented higher peak systolic and diastolic BP during maximal exercise, in addition to sympathetic hyperactivation and decreased baroreflex sensitivity. The EEBP in MetS_NT with apparent well-controlled BP may indicate a potential depressed neural baroreflex function, predisposing these patients to increased cardiovascular risk.

SUBMITTER: Dutra-Marques AC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8219920 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Dynamic exercise results in an increase to systolic blood pressure (BP). Irrespective of resting BP, some individuals may experience an exaggerated rise in systolic BP with exercise, which in adulthood, is associated with greater risk of developing hypertension, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is not known if exercise BP is associated with adverse cardiovascular risk during adolescence. We determined associations of exercise BP with left ventricular mass (LVM) in adolescents, with consideration of the possible confounding effect of body composition.We undertook a cross-sectional study of 3,949 adolescents (mean age 17.8 ± 0.4 years, 45% male) who were part of a UK population-based birth cohort study. A sub-maximal exercise step-test with automated BP measurement immediately post-exercise was completed and body composition (total fat and lean mass) assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. A sub-sample (n = 1,241) underwent comprehensive echocardiographic assessment.Each 5 mmHg increase in post-exercise systolic BP was associated with 0.34 g/m2.7 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.45) greater LVM indexed to height2.7 with adjustment for age, sex and hypertension status (p < 0.001). Further adjustment for lean mass attenuated this association to 0.29 g/m2.7 (95% CI 0.19, 0.39; p < 0.001) for each 5 mmHg of post-exercise systolic BP, adjustment for fat mass attenuated it to 0.15 g/m2.7 (95% CI 0.05, 0.25; p = 0.003), and adjustment for both lean and fat mass attenuated it to 0.13 g/m2.7 (95% CI 0.03, 0.23; p = 0.012). Individuals with post-exercise systolic BP ≥150 mmHg (corresponding to post-exercise systolic BP >70th percentile) had a 7% greater LVM compared to those with post-exercise systolic BP < 150 mmHg (p < 0.001).Exaggerated exercise systolic BP is associated with higher LVM, adjustment for body composition attenuates but does not abolish this association. These results may have important implications for cardiovascular risk in later life.