title: Effects of Atorvastatin on Resting and Peak Exercise Blood Pressure among Normotensive Men and Women.
abstract: Statins are the most widely prescribed and effective medication for reducing low density lipoprotein cholesterol. Statins may also lower resting blood pressure (BP); however, results are inconsistent. We sought to determine if the maximum dose of atorvastatin reduces resting BP and the peak systolic BP (SBP) achieved on a graded exercise stress test (GEST) among a large sample of 419 healthy men (48%) and women (52%). Subjects (419, 44.1 ± 0.8 yr) were double-blinded and randomized to 80 mg·d(-1) of atorvastatin (n = 202) or placebo (n = 217) for 6 mo. Among the total sample, there were no differences in resting BP (SBP, P = 0.30; diastolic BP [DBP], P = 0.69; mean arterial pressure (P = 0.76); or peak SBP on a GEST (P = 0.99)) over 6 mo, regardless of drug treatment group. However, among women on atorvastatin, resting SBP/DBP (3.7±1.5 mmHg, P = 0.01/3.2±0.9 mmHg, P = 0.02) and peak SBP on a GEST (6.5±1.5 mmHg, P = 0.04) were lower versus men. Atorvastatin lowered resting BP 3-4 mmHg and peak SBP on a GEST ~7 mmHg more among women than men over 6 mo of treatment. The inconsistent findings regarding the antihypertensive effects of statins may be partially explained by not accounting for sex effects.
authors.affiliation: Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA ; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Zaleski
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Marianne L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mentch
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Linda S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Pescatello
authors.affiliation: Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA ; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA ; University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT 06117, USA.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Capizzi
authors.affiliation: Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA.
authors.forename: Adam S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Priscilla M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Clarkson
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Moeckel-Cole
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Stuart R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Chipkin
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keadle
authors.affiliation: Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA ; University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
authors.forename: Charles Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: White
authors.affiliation: Henry Low Heart Center, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT 06102, USA.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thompson