Exercise-induced Hypertension and Carotid Intima-media Thickness in Male Marathon Runners

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the relationship between exercise-induced hypertension and carotid artery intima-media thickness in long-distance runners. Sixty healthy male runners aged 40–60 years were assigned to the following three groups based on resting blood pressure and peak systolic blood pressure during a maximal exercise test: normal blood pressure response, exercise-induced hypertension, and complex hypertension. An exaggerated systolic blood pressure response was defined as a peak systolic blood pressure ≥210 mmHg during the maximal exercise test, while carotid intima-media thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasonography. The carotid intima-media thickness mean values were the highest in the complex hypertension group (0.72±0.11 mm), followed by exercise-induced hypertension (0.62±0.12 mm) and normal blood pressure groups (0.55±0.13 mm), with a significant difference between the groups (p<0.002). In linear regression analysis, the mean intima-media thickness was independently associated with age (p=0.015) and peak systolic blood pressure (p=0.046), but not with resting systolic blood pressure. These results suggest that exercise-induced hypertension is associated with carotid intima-media thickness, a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease, in long-distance runners. Therefore, evaluating the blood pressure response during exercise is important for the early detection of potential cardiovascular disease risks in long-distance runners.

Excessive Blood Pressure Rise and Cardiovascular Remodeling in Marathon Runners

“…Even if we have good treatment options for EIH, preventive strategies including comprehensive assessment of oneʼs CV function and risk cannot be overlooked in exercise health. Likewise, recent studies have consistently provided evidence of adverse CV remodeling in runners with EIH compared to those with normal BP response to exercise, such as higher prevalence of coronary artery plaque, carotid-femoral augmentation index, and carotid intima-media thickness [13,[25][26][27].…”