Subject characteristics at time of exercise test, per peak systolic blood pressure reference category
| Low SBPpeak (<10 th) | Normal SBPpeak (10th −90th) | High SBPpeak (>90 th) | P value* | |
| No. subjects (%) | 1644 (23) | 5094 (71) | 426 (6) | – |
| Age, years | 57.5±9.5 | 58.6±10.8 | 55.1±11.4 | <0.001 |
| Height, m | 1.76±0.08 | 1.76±0.08 | 1.77±0.08 | 0.026 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 27.9±5.2 | 28.7±5.1 | 29.7±5.2 | <0.001 |
| METs | 7.8±3.1 | 9.0±3.4 | 9.9±3.6 | <0.001 |
| SBPrest, mm Hg | 118±13 | 135±18 | 149±19 | <0.001 |
| DBPrest, mm Hg | 76±10 | 83±10 | 89±11 | <0.001 |
| SBPpeak, mm Hg | 147±12 | 187±16 | 232±13 | <0.001 |
| Delta SBP, mm Hg | 29±13 | 52±19 | 83±20 | <0.001 |
| SBP/MET-slope, mm Hg/MET | 5.1±3.3 | 7.6±4.4 | 11.5±6.7 | <0.001 |
| Smoking, n (%) | 880 (54) | 2509 (49) | 201 (47) | 0.005 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 217 (13) | 718 (14) | 71 (17) | 0.095 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 864 (53) | 3050 (60) | 282 (66) | <0.001 |
| Previous CAD, n (%) | 542 (33) | 1008 (20) | 53 (12) | <0.001 |
| Hyperlipidaemia, n (%) | 606 (37) | 1984 (39) | 168 (39) | 0.29 |
| Beta-blocker medication, n (%) | 507 (31) | 902 (18) | 49 (12) | <0.001 |
| Stroke, n (%) | 52 (3) | 133 (3) | 10 (2) | 0.43 |
| Claudication, n (%) | 61 (4) | 200 (4) | 9 (2) | 0.17 |
| COPD, n (%) | 85 (5) | 230 (5) | 11 (3) | 0.07 |
*P value for statistical comparison across all three groups with one-way ANOVA (means) or χ2 test (proportions). Reference values from FRIEND (Fitness Registry and the Importance of Exercise: A National Database) published in Sabbahi et al.18
ANOVA, analysis of variance; BMI, body mass index; CAD, coronary artery disease; COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; MET, metabolic equivalent; SBP, systolic blood pressure.