In accordance with the 2008 American
Heart Association scientific statement, resistant hypertension was
defined as a blood pressure 140/90 mm Hg in spite of concurrent
use of 3 antihypertensive agents of different classes in adequate
doses or a blood pressure that is controlled with 4 antihypertensive
agents (inclusion criteria).Exclusion criteria were regular engagement
in physical exercise training in the past 4 weeks before
inclusion in the study, symptomatic peripheral arterial occlusive
disease, aortic insufficiency or stenosis more than stage I, hypertrophic
obstructive cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure (more than
New York Heart Association II), uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia
with hemodynamic relevance, systolic office BP 180 mm Hg, signs
of acute ischemia in exercise ECG, and change of antihypertensive
medication in the past 4 weeks before inclusion in the study or during
follow-up period.