Gender Differences In The Systolic Blood Pressure Response To Exercise

Gilbert W. Gleim, PhD, Nina S. Stachenfeld, MA, Neil L. Coplan, MD, and James A. Nicholas, MD. New York, N.Y.

Nicholas Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma and the Departments of Orthopedics and Cardiology, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, N.Y.

Previous work has shown a gender difference in the normal cardiac response to exercise. Men had significantly higher absolute systolic blood pressure responses at 50%, 75%, and 100% peak heart rate on all modalities (p < 0.05). This difference is absent when systolic blood pressure is adjusted for body surface area, is reduced when adjusted for body weights, and is reversed when systolic blood pressure is adjusted for lean body mass. The influence of gender on the systolic blood pressure response to dynamic exercise was independent of exercise modality. Men had a higher systolic blood pressure in spite of the fact that they had similar sympathetic nervous system response as indicated by urinary norepinephrine excretion. Gender differences in systolic blood pressure responses were altered when adjusted for body weight, body surface area, and lean body mass.

Am. Heart J., 1991;121:524-530