title: High ambulatory blood pressure in male professional football players.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  No data exist on ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) in athletes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify ABP and examine recommended follow-up of high office blood pressure (OBP) in male professional football players and secondary study indicators of sympathetic activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Players with high OBP (cases) from a previous screening of 594 players (n=28) were matched for age and ethnicity with players with optimal OBP (controls). High ABP was defined as a mean of ≥135/85 mm Hg during daytime and ≥120/75 mm Hg during night-time. The players replied to questions regarding follow-up of high OBP. High night-time ABP and lack of nocturnal dip (≤10% decline in average BP) were taken as indicators of increased sympathetic activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26 cases and 26 controls, mean age 28±4 years, were included. 15 (58%) of the cases had sustained hypertension and 11 (42%) white coat hypertension. Among the controls, 17 (65%) had normotension and 9 (35%) masked hypertension. ABP during night-time was high in 23 (88%) of the cases and in 16 (64%) of the controls, and nocturnal dip was absent in 9 (35%) and 11 (42%), respectively. 10 (38%) of the cases had no follow-up of high OBP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than one-third of the players with optimal OBP had masked hypertension during daytime and more than half of all players had high ABP during night-time, which are novel findings in athletes. Together with the reduced nocturnal dip, this might indicate increased sympathetic activity. Follow-up of high OBP after preparticipation screening is random and should be organised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway. hilde.moseby.berge@nih.no
authors.forename: Hilde Moseby
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Berge
authors.forename: Thor Einar
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Erik E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Solberg
authors.forename: Kjetil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steine
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D059468:Masked Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012916:Soccer / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology; D059466:White Coat Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology