Blood pressure response during treadmill exercise testing and the risk for future cardiovascular events and new-onset hypertension

OBJECTIVE The physiologic response to exercise may provide valuable prognostic information. We investigated the association of blood pressure (BP) measurements during exercise stress testing (EST) with long-term risk of myocardial infarction, stroke or death (major adverse cardiovascular event, MACE), as well as the development of new-onset hypertension. METHODS A retrospective analysis of treadmill ESTs (years 2005-2019) performed by the Bruce protocol in patients aged 35-75 years without a history of cardiovascular disease (n = 14 792; 48% women). BP was documented at rest, submaximal exercise (Bruce stage-2), peak exercise and recovery (2 min). Association of SBP measures with study outcomes during median follow-up of 6.5 years was investigated. RESULTS Highest vs. lowest SBP quartile at rest (≥140 vs. 160 vs. ≤130 mmHg: 2.44 (1.97-3.03)] and recovery [≥140 vs. ≤120 mmHg: 1.65 (1.37-1.98)]. CONCLUSION BP measurement during rest, exercise and recovery phases of EST provides incremental prognostic information regarding long-term risk for cardiovascular events and the probability for developing hypertension.