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