HEMOGLOBIN A1C IS ASSOCIATED WITH i RESTING AND EXERCISE BLOOD PRESSURES IN HEALTHY SUBJECTS

Objective: In healthy non-diabetic and non-hypertensive men, fasting blood glucose is independently associated with resting and exercise blood pressures and development of elevated blood pressure. Aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between blood pressure response to exercise test and indices of glucose metabolism in healthy adults. Methods: We studied 95 healthy subjects (44-4-13 y) without established coronary heart disease who underwent routine cycle ergometer test. Measurements included body weight, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin (FPI), HbAlc. Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment (HOMAIR). Results: BMI was 25-4-4 kg/m 2, mean blood pressure 92-4-11 mmHg, FPG 5.0-4-0.5 retool/l, FPI 8.9-4-4.1 ItU/ml, and HbAlc 5.3-4-0.4%. Resting systolic blood pressure showed a positive association with age, BMI, FPG, and HOMAIR (p<0.0001). Exercise-induced increase in systolic blood pressure was correlated positively with age, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressures and HbAlc. Stepwise multiple regression analyses found diastolic blood pressure and HbAlc to be significantly associated with an exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise testing (M = 0.44, p<0.0001). Condusions: This is the first report which links a measure of long-term glycemic control to variations in systolic blood pressure during exercise in healthy people. Thus, glycosylation phenomenon might be relevant also in healthy subjects, as suggested by the observed association of HbAlc with cardiovascular mortality in adults. Funding: Research funds.