Abstract
Objective: To study gender differences of cardiovascular responses due to painful stimuli during sphygmomanometry. Methods: We studied 80 subjects (40 women, 40 men). Blood pressure (BP) was determined continuously and noninvasively using a Finapres device (Penaz technique). The painful stimulus was administered by inflating the arm cuff of a sphygmomanometric device to 300 mmHg maximum pressure. Results: During cuff inflation systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased in women (+3.7 mmHg, SD = 9.9), but was unchanged in men (repeated measures ANOVA, P < .05). Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate did not show significant changes. Cycle and oral contraceptives did not influence cardiovascular reactivity in the female subpopulation. Women reported a different pain quality but not intensity. Conclusions: Women and men exhibit a slightly different vascular reactivity to painful stimuli. Since cycle and hormonal contraception did not influence reactivity, hormonal influences seem to play a minor role. However, different pain perception might account for gender differences in vascular reactivity.
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