EXERCISE CAPACITY AND ACE-INHIBITOR TREAT MENT IN YOUNGER HYPERTENSIVE FEMALES

The effective treatment of hypertension is of growing importance in yo unger females as one part of the metabolic syndrome in order to limit cardiovascular events and to reduce complications, too. So far only fe w data exist on complex treatment of metabolic syndrome and on effecti veness in younger women. In a prospective non-selective study 40 women aged below 60 years, and 30 males for comparison, were treated with r amipril mono-therapy (5 mg/die) and a complex exercise therapy during four weeks. The blood pressure at rest was lowered significantly (syst olic -25.6 mmHg; diastolic -18.1 mmHg) and comparable to the results o f males. Additionally LDL was reduced in females by 30.8 mg/dl (males 44.6 mg/dl) as well as cholesterol by 37.3 mg/dl (males 52.6 mg/dl). O n the basis of an elevated burn up of 2600 kilocalories per week in fe males by exercise the results were achived (comparison to males 4000 k cal). Also the results of bicycle ergometrie showed an increased endur ance exercise capacity in females (PDP +565 watt X min) in comparison to males (+860 watt X min). The combination of ACE-inhibitor treatment and the complex exercise therapy lead to an significant increase of e ndurance exercise capacity by a metabolically and hemodynamically effe ctive burn up of kilocalories per week in younger females. Regarding t he metabolic and hemodynamic results, younger females are comparable t o males of the same age-group.