GENDER DIFFERENCE IN CARDIOVASCULAR RESPONSE TO EXERCISE IN AEROBICALLY TRAINED PATIENTS WITH TREATED HYPERTENSION 1197

Abstract

This study tested the effect of moderate-intensity (70-80% of maximal heart rate) aerobic exercise training (20 - 40 minutes, 2 days/week) on resting and exercise blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR) and cardiac dimensions(determined by echocardiography) in sedentary men (n=17) and women (n=13) with treated hypertension. These otherwise healthy subjects (54.6±9 years) were tested before and after a control period (CON I) and after a 12 week training period (TRA) using a standard symptom-limited incremental bicycle ergometer test. Nine of the subjects (6 men, 3 women) were also tested after 12 weeks of detraining (CON II). Maximal workrate was significantly increased in all patients after TRA (+14%) compared to a decrease during CON I (-4%) and CON II (-10%) (p<0.001). Compared to CON I, systolic BP at 50 Watt(p<0.01), diastolic BP at 50 and 75 Watt (p<0.05) and HR at 50, 75 and 100 Watt (p<0.01) were significantly lower in women after training, but not in men. Resting BP, HR and cardiac dimensions did not change significantly (p> 0.1). All parameters increased back to baseline levels in the 9 subjects after CON II. These results suggest that there is a gender difference in the cardiovascular response to exercise in patients with treated hypertension following aerobic training.