Affiliation:
1. Cardiovascular and Applied Physiology Laboratory Florida State University Tallahassee FL
2. Neurovascular Physiology Laboratory Indiana University Bloomington IN
3. Healthy Living for Pandemic Event Protection (HL‐PIVOT) Network Chicago IL
4. Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences University of Illinois Chicago Chicago IL
5. Clinical Exercise Physiology Ball State University Muncie IN
6. Fisher Institute of Health and Well‐Being Ball State University Muncie IN
7. Division of Cardiovascular Medicine VA Palo Alto Health Care System Palo Alto CA
8. Department of Medicine Stanford University Stanford CA
Abstract
Background
A high minute ventilation/rate of carbon dioxide production (V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
) slope during exercise is prognostic for cardiovascular death. Recent data indicate that adults with either controlled or untreated primary hypertension, but not those with uncontrolled hypertension, exhibit a higher V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
slope during exercise. However, the sample sizes were modest. Therefore, we used the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database to determine whether adults with hypertension, particularly those with controlled or untreated hypertension, exhibit higher V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
slopes compared with adults without hypertension.
Methods and Results
Using the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database, we isolated primary hypertension by excluding those with any disease other than hypertension or taking any medications other than antihypertension medications. We also excluded current smokers and those with obesity. The V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
slope was determined during a peak cycling exercise test. All data are presented as median [interquartile range]. We compared groups using linear regression adjusted for age, male/female, and body mass index. The characteristics of the entire sample (n=4109) were age, 42 [18] years; 48% women; body mass index, 26 [4] kg/m
2
. The V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
slope did not differ between adults with hypertension (n=1940; 24.7 [3.7]) compared with those without hypertension (n=2169; 24.9 [3.8]) (hypertension versus no hypertension,
P
=0.31; overall model:
R
2
=0.07, F
4,4104
=73.0;
P
<0.001). Further, the V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
slope did not differ between adults with medication‐controlled hypertension (n=107; 24.4 [3.0]), untreated hypertension (n=1626; 24.8 [3.9]), uncontrolled hypertension (n=207; 24.8 [3.0]), or those without hypertension (n=2169; 24.9 [3.8]) (hypertension subgroup versus no hypertension,
P
≥0.06; overall model:
R
2
=0.07, F
6,4102
=49.6,
P
<0.001).
Conclusions
Primary hypertension is not associated with V̇
E
/V̇
co
2
slope in the Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise National Database.
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)