Exercise Performance of Hypertensive Adolescents

Abstract

Ten adolescents with sustained essential hypertension (group 1) and eight youngsters with labile hypertension (group 2) were compared to ten agematched normotensive controls (group 3) during progressive maximal exercise tests. Patients' ages ranged from 13 to 19 years and none received any medications within six months prior to the study. Systolic pressure during maximal exercise in group 1 ranged from 170 to 240 mm Hg (mean 204 ± 6.9) and was significantly higher (P < .005) than in groups 2 (177 ± 5.2) and 3 (175 ± 6.2). The diastolic pressure in group 1 (93 ± 4.5) was also significantly higher than in group 2 (74 ± 25 P < .01) and group 3 (64 ± 3.1 P < .005). In group 2 systolic pressure was not significantly different than in group 3 but increments in pulse pressure were significantly lower (P < .01). There were no significant differences in oxygen consumption and anaerobic threshold among all three groups. Conclusions are: (1) Maximal exercise testing in hypertensive adolescents is safe. (2) Their exercise performance is normal. (3) The systolic and diastolic pressures in patients with persistent essential hypertension is significantly higher during exercise than in those with labile hypertension and normal control subjects. (4) The systolic pressure of patients with labile hypertension is not significantly different from that in control subjects, but their systemic bed is less compliant during exercise. (5) Exercise tests are recommended for all hypertensive adolescents to identify those with an excessive response in blood pressure.