ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In hypertension, ß-blockers have a high rate of nonadherence to treatment likely because of fatigue. METHODS: We evaluate daily physical activity and maximal exercise performance in 56 patients with hypertension (grades I-II), with and without ß-blockers (bisoprolol 10âmg or atenolol 100âmg) added to standard treatment; 48 patients completed the study. Study tests were performed after 8âweeks of antihypertensive therapy without ß blockers and after the following 8âweeks with ß-blockers. RESULTS: No significant differences between ß-blockers were observed. At office measurement, ß-blockers decreased heart rate (HR) from 78â±â9 to 62â±â7âbpm (Pâ<â0.01) and SBP from 133â±â13 to 125â±â12âmmHg (Pâ<â0.01). No significant changes were observed for DBP. Conversely, at ambulatory pressure monitoring DBP but not SBP decreased with ß-blockers (mean-24-h DBP 77â±â8 vs. 74â±â7âmmHg, Pâ<â0.01). An overall reduction of daily activities and of estimated kilocalories consumption was observed as measured by a portable armband device. Of note, time with activity more than 3 METS was reduced by ß-blockers from 148.1 (83-201) to 117.9 (82-189) min (Pâ<â0.01). Cardiopulmonary exercise (CPE) showed a preserved exercise performance unaffected by ß-blockers. CONCLUSION: In hypertension, ß-blocker treatment is associated to reduction of daily physical activity but not of maximal exercise performance.
