Can β-blockers influence regular daily physical activity?

Background: In hypertension, beta-blockers have a high rate of nonadherence to treatment likely because of fatigue. Methods: We evaluate daily physical activity and maximal exercise performance in 56 patients with hypertension (grades I-II), with and without beta-blockers (bisoprolol 10 mg or atenolol 100 mg) added to standard treatment; 48 patients completed the study. Study tests were performed after 8 weeks of antihypertensive therapy without beta blockers and after the following 8 weeks with beta-blockers. Results: No significant differences between beta-blockers were observed. At office measurement, beta-blockers decreased heart rate (HR) from 78 +/- 9 to 62 +/- 7 bpm (P < 0.01) and SBP from 133 +/- 13 to 125 +/- 12 mmHg (P < 0.01). No significant changes were observed for DBP. Conversely, at ambulatory pressure monitoring DBP but not SBP decreased with beta-blockers (mean-24-h DBP 77 +/- 8 vs. 74 +/- 7 mmHg, P < 0.01). An overall reduction of daily activities and of estimated kilocalories consumption was observed as measured by a portable armband device. Of note, time with activity more than 3 METS was reduced by beta-blockers from 148.1 (83-201) to 117.9 (82-189) min (P < 0.01). Cardiopulmonary exercise (CPE) showed a preserved exercise performance unaffected by beta-blockers. Conclusion: In hypertension, beta-blocker treatment is associated to reduction of daily physical activity but not of maximal exercise performance.

Automated summary

This study evaluated the daily physical activity and maximal exercise performance in patients with hypertension treated with beta-blockers. The results showed that beta-blockers were associated with a reduction in daily activity but did not affect maximal exercise performance.