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Table 3 Objective and subjective findings of the participants and responses during the experiments involving submaximal exercise in the cold

From: Good safety practice in a randomized controlled trial (CadColdEx) involving increased cardiac workload in patients with coronary artery disease

Objective finding

Symptom of participant

Safety measures

Ventricular irregular HR of one participant for a few minutes while walking in a warm environment. The measured BP during this period was 76/46 mmHg and when repeated 111/53 mmHg. The RR interval, however, did not deviate from the values measured during the reminder of the experiment.

No symptoms

The participant was instructed to consult a MD because of low BP during baseline rest. A low BP needs to be considered because of post-exercise hypotension.

One measurement conducted while exercising in the cold was terminated because of ST-depression exceeding 2 mm and detecting adjacent ventricular ectopic beats.

No symptoms

The ECG returned to normal after cessation of exercise.

Four participants experienced post-exercise hypotension. Three of these occurred after walking in a warm environment (BP 60/35 mmHg, 68/35 mmHg and 87/50 mmHg) and one after exercise in the cold (BP 87/59 mmHg)

Nausea, dizziness

Participants were instructed to lie down until BP recovered to normal. This occurred briefly, after ca. 5 min.

A total of six participants experienced milder post-exercise hypotension (systolic BP < 100 mmHg). In four cases these occurred after exercise in warm and for  two participants in a cold environment.

No symptoms

Constant monitoring the responses and inquiries of subjective symptoms. No additional measures taken.