Immediate post-exercise blood pressure and arterial stiffness in hypertensive and normotensive older females.

Although it has been suggested that increased arterial stiffness is linked to exaggerated blood pressure (BP) from brief moderate exercise, it is not clear whether this occurs in older adults with and without hypertension. This study investigates whether the immediate post-exercise systolic BP following brief moderate exercise is associated with arterial stiffness in older females with different BP status. This cross-sectional study included 191 older females aged 60-80 years without known cardiovascular disease (CVD). Arterial stiffness was determined by aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV). Systolic BP was measured before and immediately following a 3-min moderate walking test (stage 1 Bruce protocol). Specific quartile-based thresholds were used to define an exaggerated immediate post-exercise systolic BP for hypertensive and normotensive older females (quartile 4 as an exaggerated response). Traditional CVD risk factors were assessed (covariates). Older females from the highest quartile of immediate post-exercise absolute systolic BP showed higher aPWV compared to their peers from the lowest quartile (ß = .22 m/s, p = .018). The quartile-based threshold to define the exaggerated post-exercise systolic BP was higher in hypertensive than in normotensive older females (174 vs. 172 mmHg). In summary, exaggerated immediate post-exercise systolic BP following a brief moderate exercise is associated with higher arterial stiffness in older females with different BP status.

Associations of objectively measured movement behavior and cardiorespiratory fitness with mental health and quality of life in older adults with hypertension: an exploratory analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objectives: Herein, we explored the associations of pre-pandemic COVID-19 physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) with mental health and quality of life in older adults with hypertension.Method: Objectively measured PA and SB, perceived stress, depression symptoms, and quality of life were assessed before and during the pandemic in seventeen older adults with hypertension. CRF was assessed before the pandemic by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. Longitudinal and cross-sectional associations were analyzed using the mixed linear model.Results: Pre-pandemic light PA (positive association) and SB (negative association) were associated with quality of life during the pandemic. Higher pre-pandemic CRF was associated with less negative changes in perceived stress, depression symptoms, and quality of life during the pandemic.Conclusion: Our preliminary findings suggest that a healthier pre-pandemic movement behavior (more PA, less SB) and better CRF can mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life in older adults with hypertension.