HEMODYNAMIC DECELERATION PATTERNS OF MEN AND WOMEN IN A CLINICAL POPULATION

Abstract

60 Hemodynamic deceleration patterns were examined in both men (n = 158, 49.2 ± 11.3 y) and women (n = 153, 49.6 ± 12.8 y). All subjects were being evaluated for complaints relating to chest pain or dyspnea, and were not on any cardiac medications. All subjects performed an exercise stress test using the Bruce protocol. Heart rates (HR), blood pressures (BP) and rate pressure products (RPP) were recorded at rest, peak exercise and at 1,3,5 and 10 minutes of recovery. A significant difference in exercise time was seen between men (558 ± 182 s) and women (430 ± 143 s). In addition, men had a significantly greater peak HR (166 ± 17 b·min−1 vs. 161 ± 15 b·min−1), peak systolic BP (203 ± 26 vs. 184 ± 27 mmHg), peak diastolic BP (98 ± 16 vs. 92 ± 16 mmHg) and peak RPP (33,590 ± 4,837 vs. 29,707 ± 5,017) than women. Analysis of covariance (using the peak measure of each variable as the covariate) showed a significantly greater deceleration response in HR at minutes 3 and 5 of recovery and in the RPP at minutes 5 and 10 of recovery in men vs. women. Deceleration patterns of both systolic and diastolic BP were not significantly different between the genders. Exercise time was significantly correlated to both HR, systolic BP and RPP deceleration patterns (r's = 0.47, 0.39 and 0.18, respectively). These data appear to demonstrate that differences in hemodynamic deceleration patterns among men and women may be partly explained by differences in exercise tolerance. However, these differences appear to occur in the mid- to latter stages of the recovery period.