Is aerobic workload positively related to ambulatory blood pressure? A cross-sectional field study among cleaners

TY - JOUR

T1 - Is aerobic workload positively related to ambulatory blood pressure?

T2 - A cross-sectional field study among cleaners

AU - Korshøj, Mette

AU - Clays, Els

AU - Lidegaard, Mark

AU - Skotte, Jørgen H.

AU - Holtermann, Andreas

AU - Krustrup, Peter

AU - Søgaard, Karen

N1 - CURIS 2016 NEXS 013

PY - 2016/1/1

Y1 - 2016/1/1

N2 - Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is prevalent among workers with high levels of occupational physical activity. The increased risk may be due to a high relative aerobic workload, possibly leading to increased blood pressure. However, studies investigating the relation between relative aerobic workload and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) are lacking. The aim was to explore the relationship between objectively measured relative aerobic workload and ABP. Methods: A total of 116 cleaners aged 18–65 years were included after informed consent was obtained. A portable device (Spacelabs 90217) was mounted for 24-h measurements of ABP, and an Actiheart was mounted for 24-h heart rate measurements to calculate relative aerobic workload as percentage of relative heart rate reserve. A repeated-measure multi-adjusted mixed model was applied for analysis. Results: A fully adjusted mixed model of measurements throughout the day showed significant positive relations (p < 0.001): a 1 % increase in mean relative aerobic workload was associated with an increase of 0.42 ± 0.05 mmHg (95 % CI 0.32–0.52 mmHg) in systolic ABP and 0.30 ± 0.04 mmHg (95 % CI 0.22–0.38 mmHg) in diastolic ABP. Correlations between relative aerobic workload and ABP were significant. Conclusions: Because workers may have an elevated relative aerobic workload for several hours each working day, this relationship may elucidate a mechanism behind the increased risk for cardiovascular disease among workers exposed to high levels of occupational physical activity.

AB - Purpose: Cardiovascular disease is prevalent among workers with high levels of occupational physical activity. The increased risk may be due to a high relative aerobic workload, possibly leading to increased blood pressure. However, studies investigating the relation between relative aerobic workload and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) are lacking. The aim was to explore the relationship between objectively measured relative aerobic workload and ABP. Methods: A total of 116 cleaners aged 18–65 years were included after informed consent was obtained. A portable device (Spacelabs 90217) was mounted for 24-h measurements of ABP, and an Actiheart was mounted for 24-h heart rate measurements to calculate relative aerobic workload as percentage of relative heart rate reserve. A repeated-measure multi-adjusted mixed model was applied for analysis. Results: A fully adjusted mixed model of measurements throughout the day showed significant positive relations (p < 0.001): a 1 % increase in mean relative aerobic workload was associated with an increase of 0.42 ± 0.05 mmHg (95 % CI 0.32–0.52 mmHg) in systolic ABP and 0.30 ± 0.04 mmHg (95 % CI 0.22–0.38 mmHg) in diastolic ABP. Correlations between relative aerobic workload and ABP were significant. Conclusions: Because workers may have an elevated relative aerobic workload for several hours each working day, this relationship may elucidate a mechanism behind the increased risk for cardiovascular disease among workers exposed to high levels of occupational physical activity.

U2 - 10.1007/s00421-015-3259-9

DO - 10.1007/s00421-015-3259-9

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26363639

SN - 1439-6319

VL - 116

SP - 145

EP - 152

JO - European Journal of Applied Physiology

JF - European Journal of Applied Physiology

IS - 1

ER -