Sabbahi A; Arena R; Kaminsky LA; Myers J; Fernhall B; Sundeep C;
Phillips SA

Journal of Human Hypertension. 35(8):685-695, 2021 08. VI 1

It has been established that blacks have higher overall incidence and
prevalence of hypertension compared to their white counterparts. However,
the maximum blood pressure (BP) response of blacks to exercise has not
been characterized. A total of 5996 apparently healthy men from the
Fitness Registry and Importance of Exercise: A National Database (FRIEND)
who underwent maximum cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a cycle ergometer
were included in this analysis. Of these participants, 1245 (21%)
self-identified as black while the remaining 4751 (79%) identified as
white. All subjects had a respiratory exchange ratio (RER) of >=1.0 and
had no reports of cardiovascular or pulmonary disease. Systolic BP (BP)
response to exercise was indexed according to increase in workload
(SBP/MET-slope). Both racial groups were subdivided into age groups by
decade. Black men had higher peak SBP and higher SBP/MET-slopes compared
to white men across all age groups (p < 0.001). Resting SBP was not
different between blacks and whites except within the 18-29-year age
group. The differences in peak SBP and SBP/MET-slope between age and race
groups indicate that black men have an exaggerated BP response to exercise
irrespective of resting BP values. Further investigation is warranted to
determine the underlying mechanisms responsible and clinical implications
for this exaggerated BP response to exercise.