Objective: To assess the usefulness of the Laboratory of Physical Science (LOPS) protocol for detecting exaggerated blood pressure (BP) response as a risk factor for future hypertension when controlling for work and personal factors.
Methods: Subjects were 815 healthy normotensive men (mean age, 43.1 ± 6.76 yr; range, 29-64 yr) who participated in the LOPS protocol, a graded 4-stage exercise test undertaken for the measurement of 40-70% of maximum oxygen consumption. A hypertensive response was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 250 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of 120 mmHg during the exercise test.
Results: New-onset hypertension or the initiation of antihypertensive drug treatment had occurred in 108 men (13.3%) after 7 yr of follow-up. Cox proportional survival analysis revealed significantly increased risks of developing hypertension were associated with exaggerated BP response to exercise (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.7) and higher frequency of business trips (hazard ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.5) after multivariable adjustments for work and personal-related risk factors.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the LOPS protocol is effective for detecting exaggerated BP response as a risk factor for future hypertension when controlling for work and personal-related risk factors. Exaggerated BP response to exercise and higher frequency of business trips are risk factors for developing future hypertension.