Clinical Exercise Physiology ASSESSMENT OF SEX DIFFERENCES IN SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE RESPONSES TO EXERCISE IN HEALTHY, NON-ATHLETIC YOUNG ADULTS

DIMKPA U, UGWU AC, OSHI DC. Assessment of Sex Differences in Systolic Blood Pressure Responses to Exercise in Healthy, NonAthletic Young Adults. JEPonline 2008;11(2):18-25. Genderdifferences in systolic blood pressure (SBP) responses to maximal exercise have not been reported previously. We assessed genderdifferences in SBP during and after exercise in non-athletic young adults. Three hundred and twenty five young adults 18-35 years (males n=160; 22.38 ± 3.74 yrs and females n=165; 22.28 ± 2.62 yrs) performed ergometer exercise at > 90% maximum heart rate. SBP and heart rate (HR) were measured during exercise at 2 minutes intervals, and post-exercise at 2 minutes interval until SBP recovered to baseline. SBP responses during and after maximal exercise were assessed using percentage SBP rise (%SBPRISE) and SBP ratio in 3 minutes of recovery relative to 1 minute (SBPR2). Males experienced a significantly higher %SBPRISE (39.82 ± 9.52; p<0.001) and lower SBPR2 (0.92 ± 0.06; p<0.001) in comparison to females. Correlation between %SBPRISE and %HRRISE; SBPR2 and VO2MAX; SBPR2 and %HR decline in 1 min and SBPR2 and %HR decline in 3 min were 27%, 59%, 32%, 24% in males and 4%, 34%, 25%, 23% in females. Our data showed gender differences in SBP responses while males indicated higher SBP response during and after exercise than females. The reported data may be useful in interpreting more accurately the significance of abnormal SBP responses to exercise in statistical terms stratified by gender.