Blood pressure response to exercise test and serum lipids in normotensive men with positive family history of hypertension

The aim of the study was to follow the arterial blood pressure response to exercise test and serum lipids in middle-aged normotensive men with family history (FH) of arterial hypertension. 152 normotensive men, divided into two groups: I group--92 men without FH for arterial hypertension and II group--60 men with family history for arterial hypertension were investigated. The response of blood pressure to exercise test on bicycle ergometer with progressively increasing workload up to 100 W was followed up. Five minute recovery period was followed, too. The total cholesterol (TC), high-density and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C and LDL-C) and triglycerides were assessed and TC/HDL-C ratio was calculated. Significant difference in the arterial blood pressure at a level of 100 W between the Ist and IInd group was found: 177 +/- 19.0/ 89 +/- 12.0 mmHg versus 189 +/- 17**/ 96 +/- 11* mmHg (* p < 0.01, ** p < 0.001). Subjects with positive FH for arterial hypertension showed higher elevation of arterial blood pressure during and after exercise: OR = 2.3 (95% CI 1.1 -4.8). The systolic blood pressure during the recovery period and TC/HDL-C ratio were significantly higher with the Ilnd group. In conclusion, our data show significantly higher reaction of blood pressure to exercise, retarded recovery of blood pressure and significantly higher TC/HDL-C ratio with the individuals with positive FH for arterial hypertension.