Exercise-induced changes in blood pressure and pulse rate in relation to cardiac structure and function assessed by a wearable wrist-type oscillometric blood pressure monitor.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the exercise-induced changes in blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate using a wearable oscillometric BP monitor and their associations with cardiac structure and function.

METHODS

The study included 137 participants (mixed hypertensive and normotensive) who underwent standardized symptom-limited cycle ergometer testing. BP and pulse rate were measured at rest, at peak exercise, and during recovery using HUAWEI WATCH D2, with reserves calculated as the peak minus rest values. Cardiac structure and function were assessed by echocardiography.

RESULTS

The study participants had a mean age of 36.7 years, and included 63 women (46.0%) and 69 patients with hypertension (50.4%). During exercise, SBP rose by 31.7 (± 17.5) mmHg (from 119.9 mmHg at basal to 151.7 mmHg at maximal), DBP by 4.9 (± 9.4) mmHg (from 79.0 to 84.0 mmHg), and pulse rate by 62.8 (± 18.6) beats/min (from 81.4 to 149.6 beats/min). After adjustment, SBP reserve was significantly associated with cardiac structure ( P  ≤ 0.024), but only with stroke volume ( P =0.048) among the functional measurements ( P  ≥ 0.443). Pulse rate reserve were negatively associated with cardiac structural measurements ( P  ≤ 0.046), and positively with diastolic function ( P  ≤ 0.048). These observed associations tended to be stronger in women.

CONCLUSION

Wearable BP monitors can trace hemodynamic responses to exercise. The exercise-induced changes in pulse rate and SBP are associated with cardiac structure and function, especially in women.