scholarly journals Blood Pressure Response and Vascular Function of Professional Athletes and Controls

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (02) ◽  
pp. E45-E52
Author(s):  
Pascal Bauer ◽  
Lutz Kraushaar ◽  
Sophie Hoelscher ◽  
Rebecca Weber ◽  
Ebru Akdogan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Blood Pressure Response ◽  
Bicycle Ergometer ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Professional Athletes ◽  
Functional Parameters ◽  
Ergometer Test ◽  
Potential Use ◽  
Bicycle Ergometer Test

AbstractWorkload-indexed blood pressure response (wiBPR) to exercise has been shown to be superior to peak systolic blood pressure (SBP) in predicting mortality in healthy men. Thus far, however, markers of wiBPR have not been evaluated for athletes and the association with vascular function is unclear. We examined 95 male professional athletes (26±5 y) and 30 male controls (26±4 y). We assessed vascular functional parameters at rest and wiBPR with a graded bicycle ergometer test and compared values for athletes with those of controls. Athletes had a lower pulse wave velocity (6.4±0.9 vs. 7.2±1.5 m/s, p=0.001) compared to controls. SBP/Watt slope (0.34±0.13 vs. 0.44±0.12 mmHg/W), SBP/MET slope (6.2±1.8 vs. 7.85±1.8 mmHg/MET) and peak SBP/Watt ratio (0.61±0.12 vs. 0.95±0.17 mmHg/W) were lower in athletes than in controls (p<0.001). The SBP/Watt and SBP/MET slope in athletes were comparable to the reference values, whereas the peak SBP/Watt-ratio was lower. All vascular functional parameters measured were not significantly correlated to the wiBPR in either athletes or controls. In conclusion, our findings indicate the potential use of the SBP/Watt and SBP/MET slope in pre-participation screening of athletes. Further, vascular functional parameters, measured at rest, were unrelated to the wiBPR in athletes and controls.

scholarly journals Sex differences in workload-indexed blood pressure response and vascular function among professional athletes and their utility for clinical exercise testing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Bauer ◽  
Lutz Kraushaar ◽  
Oliver Dörr ◽  
Holger Nef ◽  
Christian W. Hamm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Sex Differences ◽  
Vascular Function ◽  
Blood Pressure Response ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Peak Exercise ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Response To Exercise ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Purpose Sex differences in blood pressure (BP) regulation at rest have been attributed to differences in vascular function. Further, arterial stiffness predicts an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise (BPR) in healthy young adults. However, the relationship of vascular function to the workload-indexed BPR and potential sex differences in athletes are unknown. Methods We examined 47 male (21.6 ± 1.7 years) and 25 female (21.1 ± 2 years) athletes in this single-center pilot study. We assessed vascular function at rest, including systolic blood pressure (SBP). Further, we determined the SBP/W slope, the SBP/MET slope, and the SBP/W ratio at peak exercise during cycling ergometry. Results Male athletes had a lower central diastolic blood pressure (57 ± 9.5 vs. 67 ± 9.5 mmHg, p < 0.001) but a higher central pulse pressure (37 ± 6.5 vs. 29 ± 4.7 mmHg, p < 0.001), maximum SBP (202 ± 20 vs. 177 ± 15 mmHg, p < 0.001), and ΔSBP (78 ± 19 vs. 58 ± 14 mmHg, p < 0.001) than females. Total vascular resistance (1293 ± 318 vs. 1218 ± 341 dyn*s/cm5, p = 0.369), pulse wave velocity (6.2 ± 0.85 vs. 5.9 ± 0.58 m/s, p = 0.079), BP at rest (125 ± 10/76 ± 7 vs. 120 ± 11/73.5 ± 8 mmHg, p > 0.05), and the SBP/MET slope (5.7 ± 1.8 vs. 5.1 ± 1.6 mmHg/MET, p = 0.158) were not different. The SBP/W slope (0.34 ± 0.12 vs. 0.53 ± 0.19 mmHg/W) and the peak SBP/W ratio (0.61 ± 0.12 vs. 0.95 ± 0.17 mmHg/W) were markedly lower in males than in females (p < 0.001). Conclusion Male athletes displayed a lower SBP/W slope and peak SBP/W ratio than females, whereas the SBP/MET slope was not different between the sexes. Vascular functional parameters were not able to predict the workload-indexed BPR in males and females.

Workload-indexed blood pressure response to a maximum exercise test among professional indoor athletes

2020 ◽  
pp. 204748732092204
Author(s):  
Pascal Bauer ◽  
Lutz Kraushaar ◽  
Oliver Dörr ◽  
Holger Nef ◽  
Christian W Hamm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Pressure Response ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cycle Ergometer ◽  
Pressure Response ◽  
Professional Athletes ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Metabolic Equivalent ◽  
Group I ◽  
Metabolic Equivalent Of Task

Background Exercise testing is performed regularly in professional athletes. However, the blood pressure response (BPR) to exercise is rarely investigated in this cohort, and normative upper thresholds are lacking. Recently, a workload-indexed BPR (increase in systolic blood pressure per increase in metabolic equivalent of task (SBP/MET slope)) was evaluated in a general population and was compared with mortality. We sought to evaluate the SBP/MET slope in professional athletes and compare it with performance. Design This was a cross-sectional study. Methods A total of 142 male professional indoor athletes (age 26 ± 5 years) were examined. Blood pressure was measured at rest and during a standardized, graded cycle ergometer test. We assessed the BPR during exercise, the workload, and the metabolic equivalent of task (MET). Athletes were divided into groups according to their SBP/MET slope quartiles (I <4.3; II 4.3–6.2; III >6.2–9; IV >9 mmHg/MET) and compared regarding systolic BP (sBP) and workload achieved. Results Athletes in group I ( n = 42) had the lowest maximum sBP (180 ± 13 mmHg) but achieved the highest relative workload (4.2 ± 1 W/kg). With increasing SBP/MET slope, the maximum sBP increased (II ( n = 56): 195 ± 15 mmHg; III ( n = 44): 216 ± 16 mmHg) and the workload achieved decreased (II: 3.9 ± 0.7 W/kg; III: 3.3 ± 0.5 W/kg). The differences in sBP between these groups were significant ( p < 0.001). None of the athletes were assigned to group IV (>9 mmHg/MET). Conclusion Athletes in the lowest SBP/MET slope quartile displayed the lowest maximum sBP but achieved a higher workload than athletes classified into the other SBP/MET slope groups. This simple, novel metric might help to distinguish a normal from an exaggerated BPR to exercise, to identify athletes at risk of developing hypertension.

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