Detection of exaggerated blood pressure response using laboratory of physical science protocol and risk of future hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the usefulness of the Laboratory of Physical Science (LOPS) protocol for detecting exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response as a risk factor for future hypertension when controlling for work and personal factors.


METHODS
Subjects were 815 healthy normotensive men (mean age, 43.1 ± 6.76 yr; range, 29-64 yr) who participated in the LOPS protocol, a graded 4-stage exercise test undertaken for the measurement of 40-70% of maximum oxygen consumption. A hypertensive response was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 250 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 120 mmHg during the exercise test.


RESULTS
New-onset hypertension or the initiation of antihypertensive drug treatment had occurred in 108 men (13.3%) after 7 yr of follow-up. Cox proportional survival analysis revealed significantly increased risks of developing hypertension were associated with exaggerated BP response to exercise (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.7) and higher frequency of business trips (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.5) after multivariable adjustments for work and personal-related risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the LOPS protocol is effective for detecting exaggerated BP response as a risk factor for future hypertension when controlling for work and personal-related risk factors. Exaggerated BP response to exercise and higher frequency of business trips are risk factors for developing future hypertension.
Odahara
Tsutomu
T
Kagoshima Occupational Environmental Health Center, Toukai-cho, Kagoshima city, Kagoshima, Japan. odahara@mbr.nifty.com
Irokawa
Masataka
M
Karasawa
Hiroshi
H
Matsuda
Shinya
S
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004651:Employment; D005080:Exercise Test; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014195:Travel