Blood pressure and heart rate of students undergoing a medical licensing examination.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of a real life mental stress situation on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in students undergoing a medical licensing examination.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of 121 medical students taking the final licensing exam. BP and HR were taken before and after the exam. Additionally, BP was measured by ambulatory BP monitoring device and HR was recorded continuously by an HR monitor belt in 25 students throughout the examination.


RESULTS
Diastolic BP (DBP) increased from 81 +/- 10 mmHg before the exam to 86 +/- 9 mmHg (p = 0.008) during the exam and to 88 +/- 11 mmHg, (p = 0.007) 15 min after the exam. Systolic BP (SBP) did not increase significantly during (from 131 +/- 14 before the exam to 136 +/- 18 mmHg) and after the exam (135 +/- 16 mmHg). HR decreased during (to 100 +/- 18 beats/min, p < 0.001), and after the exam (to 95 +/- 19 beats/min, p < 0.001) compared to values before the exam (114 +/- 19 beats/min). SBP was higher in male students compared to female students before (138 +/- 10 vs 125 +/- 18 mmHg) and after (126 +/- 18 vs 115 +/- 17 mmHg) the exam (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Only DBP increased during medical licensing examination, albeit within a small range. SBP did not change significantly and HR decreased during the exam. Male students showed a higher SBP compared to female students.
Zeller
Andreas
A
Medical Outpatient Department and Hypertension Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland. zellera@uhbs.ch
Handschin
Daniel
D
Gyr
Niklaus
N
Martina
Benedict
B
Battegay
Edouard
E
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D020441:Ginkgo biloba; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics; D008007:Licensure, Medical; D008140:Lorazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D014632:Valerian; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014815:Vitamins; D011433:Propranolol; D008140:Lorazepam