9 Oct 2025 • In a study of 19,110 adults undergoing treadmill testing, greater increases in systolic blood pressure (SBP) during exercise and recovery were linked to lower long-term mortality. Over 4.4 years, 649 deaths occurred (134 cardiovascular).

Each 1-SD rise in maximal exercise SBP (ΔSBPmax) reduced cardiovascular death risk by 20% (HR 0.80) and all-cause death by 12% (HR 0.88), while similar increases in recovery SBP (ΔSBPrec) lowered these risks by 25% and 15%, respectively.

In contrast, recovery SBP falling below resting levels was tied to higher mortality, highlighting exercise BP responses as key prognostic markers.

Source: AJH | Read Full Story