Hormonal responses to the 6-minute walk test in women and men with coronary heart disease: A pilot study

• Published in: Heart & lung 2005-03, Vol.34 (2), p.126-135
• Main Authors: Radke, Karen J., King, Kathleen B., Blair, Martha L., Fitzpatrick, Patricia G., Eldredge, Deborah H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atrial Natriuretic Factor - blood; Coronary Disease - blood; Coronary Disease - physiopathology; Data Interpretation, Statistical; Epinephrine - blood; Exercise Test; Female; Humans; Male; Norepinephrine - blood; Pilot Projects; Renin - blood; Sex Factors; Stroke Volume; Time Factors; Vasopressins - blood; Walking - physiology
• ISSN: 0147-9563; 1527-3288
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2004.08.002

Women with coronary heart disease (CHD) are more likely than men to develop congestive heart failure (CHF). Dysregulation of sympathetic and volume-regulatory hormones may contribute to the onset of symptomatic CHF. We hypothesized that this hormonal dysregulation develops at an earlier stage of CHD in women than in men. The study goals were (1) to determine the effect of gender on basal and exercise-induced plasma concentrations of catecholamines and volume-regulatory hormones in patients diagnosed with CHD, New York Heart Association class I and (2) to determine efficacy of the 6-minute walk test as a stimulus for release of these hormones. Study participants were 9 women and 9 men with normal left ventricular ejection fraction (>50%) and CHD confirmed by arteriography. Data were collected under resting conditions, and after the 6-minute walk test, in the general clinical research center of a northeastern university medical center. Basal plasma vasopressin (VP) concentration was significantly higher in men than in women ( P = .018). Exercise, for women and men combined, significantly increased atrial natriuretic peptide ( P < .0005), VP ( P = .04), norepinephrine ( P < .0005), and epinephrine ( P = .038) but not plasma renin activity ( P = .09). No further gender differences were detected for basal levels, or for the magnitude of exercise-induced increases, for any of the hormones measured. The 6-minute walk test is an exercise of sufficient intensity and duration to initiate the release of hormones associated with sympathetic activation and fluid-electrolyte regulation in both women and men with CHD. It appears that a gender difference was detected only for basal VP levels.