Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Oberreither, E.
Associations of physical activity, nocturnal blood pressure and plasma cortisol
in hypertensive patients
Humanmedizin; [ Diplomarbeit/Master Thesis (UNI) ] Graz Medical University; 2015. pp.51.
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Keppel Martin Helmut
- Pilz Stefan
- Altmetrics:
- Abstract:
- Purpose of the study: Physical activity is one of the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factors and has an effect on blood pressure and the autonomic nervous system. Data on the association between physical activty, nighttime blood pressure – a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcome – and cortisol are however sparse. We therefore aimed to study these associations in this thesis. Methods: We recruited patients with hypertension from the Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, of the University Hospital Graz. We performed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) measurements and blood collections for measurement of serum cortisol in this cohort. Physical activity was assessed with the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: We included 208 patients (age 60.8±10.8 years, 53.8% female) with a median physical activity of 4800 metabolic equivalent (MET) -minutes/week (median = 1240 minutes (20.66h) activity/week und median = 3.98 MET intensity of the activity) and mean nighttime systolic pressure of 115±16.8 mmHg and mean nighttime diastolic blood pressure of 67±10.0 mmHg. In linear regression analysis adjusted for multiple confounders MET-minutes/week (physical activity) was significantly associated with nighttime systolic blood pressure (Beta-coefficient= -0.18, P-value=0.041), and nighttime diastolic blood pressure (Beta-coefficient= -0.22, P-value=0.005) and by trend with cortisol (Beta-coefficient= 0.16, P-value=0.096). Conclusion: In patients with hypertension we found an association between MET-minutes/week and nighttime systolic and diastolic blood pressure.