The goal of this observational study is to assess arterial stiffness and autonomic regulation of blood pressure and heart rate in healthy adults and people with arterial hypertension during orthostatic stress and graded physical exercise. The main objective is to analyze cardiovascular responses to exercise on a cycle ergometer in different subgroups of participants with hypertension.
The study includes healthy young adults and older adults with hypertension. Participants undergo standardized assessments including orthostatic testing, graded exercise testing on a cycle ergometer, electrocardiography, and measurement of arterial stiffness parameters such as pulse wave velocity, as well as other vascular and hemodynamic parameters.
The results of this study are expected to improve understanding of cardiovascular physiology and autonomic regulation in people with hypertension and may contribute to earlier recognition of autonomic dysfunction and improved clinical management.
Healthy volunteers aged 18-35 years without known acute or chronic disease, non-smokers, body mass index (BMI) 20-24.9 kg/m², and negative orthostatic test
Participants aged ≥60 years with arterial hypertension followed at the Department of Hypertension
Hypertension group: controlled arterial hypertension, negative orthostatic test, without diabetes mellitus
Hypertension with orthostatic hypotension group: controlled arterial hypertension and positive orthostatic test indicating orthostatic hypotension
Dementia, neurodegenerative disease, or cognitive impairment preventing understanding of study procedures
Known cardiovascular disease including heart failure (NYHA II-IV), myocardial infarction within the previous 6 months, clinically significant arrhythmias, or peripheral arterial occlusive disease
Uncontrolled arterial hypertension
Change in antihypertensive therapy within the previous 4 weeks
The study population includes healthy young adults and older adults with arterial hypertension who are followed at the Department of Hypertension, University Medical Centre Ljubljana. Participants with hypertension are categorized into subgroups including hypertension without orthostatic blood pressure abnormalities, hypertension with orthostatic hypotension, hypertension with orthostatic hypertension, and hypertension with diabetes.
Case-control
Cross-sectional
Not listed
Heart Rate Variability
Assessment of heart rate variability parameters during orthostatic testing and graded exercise testing as indicators of autonomic cardiovascular regulation.
Blood Pressure Response to Exercise
Assessment of systolic and diastolic blood pressure response during graded exercise testing on a cycle ergometer.
Pulse Wave Velocity
Measurement of arterial stiffness using pulse wave velocity.
Heart Rate Recovery
Rate of decrease in heart rate following completion of graded exercise testing on a cycle ergometer.
Orthostatic Blood Pressure Response
Assessment of changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure during standardized orthostatic testing.
Orthostatic Heart Rate Response
Change in heart rate during standardized orthostatic testing.
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