Definitions for hypertensive response to exercise: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Hypertension (HT) is a leading modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but resting blood pressure (BP) measurements often miss hypertensive episodes during daily activities, affecting 10-15% of adults. A hypertensive response to exercise (HRE), characterized by abnormally high systolic BP (SBP) increases, is associated with future arterial HT and cardiovascular events, even in normotensive individuals and athletes. Despite its clinical significance, definitions of HRE vary widely, leading to inconsistent incidence estimates. The aim of this study was to collect available values of HRE and investigate definitions for HRE.

Evidence acquisition: This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines, conducting a comprehensive search of MEDLINE and Embase from 1974 to 2024. The search included studies on normotensive adults and athletes with or without HRE, focusing on BP cutoffs across exercise modalities and intensities. Eligible study designs included original research studies of any design, while reviews, case reports, and meta-analyses were excluded. Data extraction and synthesis involved multiple reviewers to ensure accuracy, with results presented in narrative and tabular formats.

Evidence synthesis: A total of 25 studies with 15,391 participants (weighted mean age 50 years, 28.3% female, 5.4% athletes) were analyzed, encompassing various study designs, including cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and longitudinal studies. Exercise test protocols included treadmill (14 studies), bicycle ergometry (seven), shuttle/runs (three), and hand-grip strength (one), with most studies utilizing peak exercise intensities and automated BP measurements. Cut-offs for HRE varied, with most studies using SBP thresholds of ≥210 mmHg for men and ≥190 mmHg for women, though some studies proposed higher thresholds or included diastolic BP criteria. Definitions and methodologies for HRE were heterogeneous, reflecting variability across studies. Age, sex, fitness level, and test protocols significantly influence BP response, yet these factors are mostly omitted in the definition of HRE, with older adults and postmenopausal women showing exaggerated responses. Athletes exhibit higher peak SBP during exercise due to increased peak exercise cardiac output and augmented muscular strength enabling the athletes to push peak SBP higher, but thresholds applied are often the same as for non-athletes, underscoring the need for fitness-specific cut-offs. Variations in test protocols, measurement methods, and reliance on legacy cut-offs, which have been reproduced over decades further complicate consensus on standardized thresholds.

Conclusions: Standardized, phenotype-specific criteria are essential to improve diagnostic accuracy and guide clinical recommendations in HRE.