Impaired heat rate recovery after exereise test in hypertensive patients

ABSTRACT

This work studied 70 untreated hypertensive patients [50 men and 20 women] and 30 normotensive subjects [20 men and 10 women]. Echocardiography was done to assess left ventricular mass index and function. Exercise ECG test was given for all patients at baseline. Hypertensive patients were classified into two subgroups The first subgroup included 20 patients with normal heart rate recovery [>12 beats/minute] and the second subgroup included 50 patients with impaired heart rate recovery [<12 beats/minute]. Beta blocker was given to 25 patients and 25 patients received antihypertensive drugs not including beta blockers for six weeks and the exercise ECG test was repeated again for all 50 patients. It was concluded that the impaired heart rate recovery after exercise in hypertensive patients is related to the age of the patients and the presence of left ventricle diastolic dysfunction and that the beta blockers affect heart rate in recovery most likely due to an indirect effect by the reduction of chronotropism