Cardiovascular reactivity patterns elicited by the cold pressor test as a function of aging

The cold pressor test has been widely used in previous cardiovascular reactivity studies as a predictor of hypertension. However, the influence of the physical adaptations of the arterial wall with increasing age on reactivity has not been delineated. 64 men divided into 5 different age groups participated in a laboratory protocol consisting of submerging one hand in ice water for one minute while changes in blood pressure were continuously measured. The results indicated that with increasing age, the systolic blood pressure change, especially the rate of change (slope) is more pronounced than changes in diastolic blood pressure. With increasing age, there is a shift from a diastolic blood pressure reactivity pattern to a more systolic blood pressure reactivity pattern during application of the cold pressor test. This could be ascribed to a decrease in arterial compliance.