| Summary: | Background: A hypertensive response to submaximal exercise is associated with cardiovascular disease but may be influenced by functional capacity. Spironolactone may improve functional capacity, which could mask treatment effects on exercise blood pressure (BP). This study sought to examine this hypothesis.
Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical trial data in 102 participants (54 ± 9 years; 52% male) with a hypertensive BP response to peak exercise (systolic BP ≥210 mmHg in men; ≥190 mmHg in women) who were randomised to 3-months spironolactone 25 mg daily (n = 53) or placebo control (n = 49). Submaximal exercise BP was measured during fixed low-intensity cycling (50–70% maximal age-predicted heart rate). Functional capacity was measured as maximal oxygen capacity obtained during a separate maximal treadmill exercise test.
Results: Spironolactone improved submaximal exercise systolic BP with a small effect size compared to placebo (−4 ± 16 vs 2 ± 15 mmHg, p = 0.08, Cohen’s d = 0.35), but also functional capacity with a small effect size (0.64 ± 5.10 vs −1.43 ± 5.04 ml/kg/min, p = 0.06, Cohen’s d = 0.41). However, when the change in submaximal exercise systolic BP was expressed relative to the change in functional capacity, there was a significant decrease with spironolactone compared to placebo (−0.3 ± 1.1 vs 0.3 ± 1.1 mmHg/ml.kg.min−1, p = 0.01, Cohen’s d = 0.54).
Conclusion: Spironolactone may reduce submaximal exercise BP, but its full treatment effects may be hidden by increased functional capacity. A change in exercise BP should be interpreted according to any change in functional capacity.
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