Effects of Metoprolol and Nebivolol on Exercise Blood Pressure in Patients with Mild Hypertension

OBJECTIVES We planned to compare the impact of two beta blockers, metoprolol and nebivolol, on arterial blood pressure during exercise in patients with mild hypertension. METHODS A total of 60 patients (13 males, 47 females; mean age: 54.3 ± 10.7 years) were enrolled in the present study. The patients were randomly selected to receive either nebivolol 5 mg/day (n = 30) or metoprolol 50 mg/day (n = 30) for 8 weeks. At the end of the 8th week, each of the patients received exercise stress test according to Bruce protocol and their blood pressures were remeasured after rest, exercise, and recovery. RESULTS Blood pressures were determined to be similar between metoprolol and nebivolol groups during rest, exercise, and recovery periods. Metoprolol and nebivolol achieved similar reductions in blood pressures during rest and exercise. However, five patients in nebivolol group and four patients in metoprolol group developed exaggerated BP response to exercise but the difference between metoprolol and nebivolol was not meaningful (P = 0.37). CONCLUSION The results of the present study showed that metoprolol and nebivolol established comparable effects on the control of blood pressures during exercise in the patients with mild hypertensions.