The civilians, sitizen of Sarajevo were forced to stay in the war zone for a very long period. It can be expected that living under these abnormal stressful conditions cause numerous changes in the functioning of various organic systems including the cardiovascular one.The aim of this study was to assess the arterial blood pressure response to treadmill stress exercise in young people of Sarajevo in post war period.
Methods: 40 students of Sarajevo University (both sexes) performed multistage incremental exercise treadmill testing under Bruce protocol.Actual results were compared with the results obteined in the population of age matched students who were tested during the war period.The differences among the groups were tested by Student t.test and were accepted as significant for p<0,05.During exercise and in recovery period heart rate (HR) and electrocardiogram (EKG) were constantly monitored.The blood pressure values obtained by the cuff method at the last minute of each stage of exercise and in the recovery period (1,3,6 and 9 minutes).
Results: Resting values of HR, systolic (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and the EKG were within physiological range.Mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in total number of subjects tested in the post war period,in rest, during exercise and recovery period.Male subjects tested in the war period has higher SBP than female, in rest, during exercise and in recovery period.The gender significantly influenced the absolute SBP response to dynamic exercise.Exaggerated SB response (over 200 mmHg) was observed only in male groups, both in the war and post war period.The differences in SBP between male and female subjects were less pronounced in the post war period.
It can be conducted that stress caused by war influenced the arterial blood pressure response to treadmill stress exercise.The exaggerated systolic blood pressure response was observed only in male subjects.The gender differences in SBP response were diminished in the post war period.