SERUM-LIPIDS, NEUROENDOCRINE, AND CARDIOVASCULAR-RESPONSES TO STRESS IN MEN AND WOMEN WITH MILD HYPERTENSION

In this study, we examined the relation between serum lipid levels, ge nder, and cardiovascular and neuroendocrine stress reactivity in patie nts with mild hypertension. Ninety-nine individuals (62 men, 37 women) with mild hypertension performed four mental stress tasks: mental ari thmetic, public speaking, cold stress, and a computer videogame. Cardi ovascular reactivity scores were computed by subtracting the minimum r esting blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) values from the maximum values obtained during each task. Neuroendocrine reactivity was calcu lated as the change from epinephrine and norepinephrine values from me an rest to mean task. High and low reactors were identified on the bas is of median splits of reactivity scores, averaged across all four str essors. High systolic blood pressure reactors had higher levels of tot al (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and apo-B than d id low reactors. High diastolic blood pressure reactors had lower leve ls of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and higher levels o f LDL-C and apo-B than did low reactors. High HR reactors had higher a po-AI:apo-AII ratios than low reactors. Lipid levels were not differen t for high and low epinephrine and norepinephrine reactors. Although w omen were noted to have more favorable lipid profiles than men, both m ale and female hypertensive patients who were high reactors had less f avorable lipid profiles than low reactors.