Hypertensive response in exercise - a tool to predict stroke risk?

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction There is some evidence suggesting that exaggerated hypertensive response to exercise (HRE) may be associated with higher risk of future cardiovascular events, however the relationship between systolic blood pressure (SPB) during exercise test and stroke is not fully understood. Purpose To evaluate the ability to predict the risk of stroke in patients with HRE in exercise test. Methods Single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients submitted to exercise test from 2012 to 2015 with HRE to stress test. HRE was defined as a peak systolic blood pressure (PSBP) > 210 mmHg in men and > 190 mmHg in women, or a rise of the SBP of 60 mmHg in men or 50 mmHg in women or as a diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg or a rise of 10 mmHg. Patient’s demographics, baseline clinical characteristics, vital signs during the stress test and the occurrence of stroke during follow-up were analysed Results We included 458 patients with HRE (76% men, 57.5 ± 10.83 years). The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (83%), dyslipidaemia (61%), previously known coronary disease (32%), diabetes (28%) and smoking (38%). Atrial fibrillation was present in 5.9% of patients. During a mean follow-up of 60 ± 2 months, the incidence of stroke was 2.1% (n = 8), all with ischemic origin. Considering the parameters analysed on exercise test, only PSBP demonstrated to be an independent predictor of stroke (HR 1.042, CI95% 1.002-1.084, p = 0.039,) with moderate ability to predict stroke (AUC 0.735, p = 0.0016) with a most discriminatory value of 203 mmHg (sensibility 56%, specify 67%). Regarding baseline characteristics, after age, sex and comorbidities adjustment, previously controlled hypertension was found to be an independent protective factor of stroke (OR 4.247, CI 95% 0.05-0.9, p = 0.036) and atrial fibrillation was an independent predictor of stroke occurrence (HR 8.1, CI95% 1.4-46.9, p = 0.018). Atrial fibrillation was also associated with hospitalization of cardiovascular cause and major cardiovascular events occurrence (mortality, coronary syndrome and stroke). Baseline SBP was associated with atrial fibrillation development (p = 0.008). Conclusion According to our results, PSBP during exercise test is an independent predictor of stroke occurrence and should be considered as a potencial additional tool to predict stroke occurrence, particularly in high risk patients. The identification of diagnosed hypertension as a protective factor of stroke may be explained by the cardioprotective effect of antihypertensive drugs.