Augmented exercise pressor response during maximal treadmill exercise is not related to systemic inflammation in stroke survivors

• Published in: Topics in stroke rehabilitation 2021-05, Vol.28 (4), p.251-257
• Main Authors: Sprick, Justin D., Serra, Monica C., Ryan, Alice S., Li, Yunxiao, Park, Jeanie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cross-Sectional Studies; Exercise; exercise induced hypertension; Exercise pressor reflex; Exercise Test; Humans; Inflammation - etiology; neural control of circulation; Quality of Life; rehabilitation; Stroke - complications; Survivors
• ISSN: 1074-9357; 1945-5119
• DOI: 10.1080/10749357.2020.1806436

Stroke survivors have exercise intolerance that contributes to reduced quality of life and survival. While exaggerated blood pressure responses during exercise have been documented in other chronic diseases, whether stroke patients have abnormal hemodynamic responses during aerobic exercise remains unexplored. This cross-sectional study aimed to examine whether stroke survivors have exaggerated increases in blood pressure during maximal treadmill exercise and whether these responses may be related to systemic inflammation. Forty-six participants (25 stroke survivors, STROKE, and 21 controls, CON) performed a maximal treadmill exercise test via the modified Naughton protocol while blood pressure was measured manually during each treadmill stage. A linear mixed model was used to compare the slope of rise in heart rate and blood pressure within and between groups. Spearmans rho analysis was performed to explore the relationship between these responses and circulating concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers. The STROKE group exhibited a lower VO 2 peak (16.4 ± 0.8 vs. 30.0 ± 1.8 ml/kg/min, P