CARDIOVASCULAR REACTIVITY TO STRESS PREDICTS FUTURE BLOOD-PRESSURE STATUS

Cardiovascular reactivity to stress may have a pathophysiological role in neurogenic hypertension. We studied the value of measuring blood p ressure change during standardized mental and physical challenges to p rediction of resting blood pressure status 6.5 years later among 206 m iddle-aged adults and their 164 children, with the latter group origin ally being tested while enrolled in elementary through high school. Af ter adjustment for age, resting blood pressure, and body mass index at study entry, as well as length of follow-up, larger systolic and dias tolic blood pressure responses to a combination of mental and physical challenges were associated with higher subsequent resting diastolic b lood pressure 6.5 years later among adults. Among boys, but not among girls, larger systolic and diastolic blood pressure responses to chall enge were associated with higher subsequent resting blood pressure. Th ese data suggest that people who are at high risk for elevated blood p ressure might have an exaggerated stress-induced cardiovascular respon se at a younger age.