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Introduction. Involuntary, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is important risk factor for systemic hypertension. Researches on the influence of voluntary breath holding on blood pressure (BP) revealed that repetitive, end-expiratory breath-holds and single, maximal end-inspiratory apnoea rise of BP. The frequency of sleep apnoea increase with age and body mass index (BMI). The aim of the study was to assess the relation between age and BMI and changes of BP during voluntary apnoea in healthy subjects. Material and methods. The study population consisted of 30 normal subjects (mean age 37+12 years) with mean BMS of 23+3 kg/m2. In all subjects the finger arterial pressure were measured with Finometer in following sequence: 20-second periods of: breathing, end-expiratory apnoea and breathing after apnoea. Results. The comaprison of hemodynamic variables measured during breathing vs apnoea revealed statistically significant increase of SBP (p<0,001), DBP (p<0,001), MABP(p<0,001) and TPR (p<0,005). A moderate correlation was observed between age and increase of SBP during apnoea (r=0,46; p<0,01) but no correlation was found between BMI and rise of BP. Conclusions. In healthy subjects with normal body mass index during end-expiratory apnoe increase of systolic blood pressure was observed with age.

Keywords: apnoea, Body Mass Index, Blood Pressure