A COMPARISON OF EXERCISE PERFORMANCE AND FATIGUE IN HYPERTENSIVE MEN OVER 50 YEARS OF AGE TAKING PROPRANOLOL AND PINDOLOL.
Contributors: Rush University, College Of Nursing.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 137
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.
Description: A side effect consistently associated with B-blockers is fatigue. The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in exercise performance and fatigue experienced by hypertensive subjects when taking pindolol versus propranolol.

Nineteen white males (x age of 60.3) with essential hypertension were randomly assigned to propranolol-pindolol or pindolol-propranolol group (double blind-crossover design with placebo washouts). Subjects were titrated on each drug until the DBP < 90 mm Hg on two visits. A graded bicycle exercise test, Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scored at peak exercise, the Profile of Mood States, and the Beck Depression Inventory were administered at the end of each placebo and drug treatment period.

There were no significant differences between propranolol or pindolol in peak exercise time, oxygen consumption or RPE. Graded ergometry in the placebo phase, however, revealed two groups of subjects: Group I (n = 14) had a normal rate of rise of SBP during exercise; Group II (n = 5) had a morbidly high rate of rise of SBP (Group I versus Group II p = .001).

In Group I, peak (')VO(,2) was attenuated from placebo value (p < .01) with both propranolol and pindolol. The mean (')VO(,2) and VE values were lower (p < .01) for propranolol than for pindolol. There were no differences between drugs in EXT or RPE. Pindolol and propranolol equally attenuated (p < .01) SBP and DPB in this group at rest and during exercise in this group.

In Group II, there were no significant differences in peak (')VO(,2), (')VE, EXT, or RPE between drugs. In this group, pindolol provided greater control of SBP (p < .01) than propranolol at rest and during exercise. Propranolol did not significantly attenuate SBP at rest nor during low to moderate workloads. Neither drug significantly reduced DBP during exercise in this group.

The data from this study demonstrate the need to further investigate the blood pressure dynamics of hypertensive subjects during graded exercise. A graded exercise test may prove to be a useful model to study hemodynamic changes in subgroups of hypertensives. As was illustrated in this study, some hypertensives respond differently to selected drug therapies. This difference was illustrated, moreover, only during dynamic exercise.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 47-02, Section: B, page: 0573.

Thesis (D.N.SC.)--RUSH UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF NURSING, 1986.

School code: 0591.