Assessment of the physical state in elderly hypertensive patients

Abstract

Background. The level of physical functioning is an indicator of biological age, a marker of health and quality of life, has prognostical significance for the risk of disability and death. The purpose was to assess the level of physical condition of patients with essential hypertension (EH) in the elderly (E) and old (O) age by The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Materials and methods. In 110 patients with 1–2 degree, stage II EH, mean age 69.1 ± 8.1 years, balance, gait speed and strength of the lower extremities were explores according to SPPB, evaluation of results were performed according to 4-point qualification system. Results. In EH patients a satisfactory level of physical functioning is registered: the total score for SPPB at E age was 10.49±0.18, C— 8.57±0.37. Among E hypertensive`s 92% showed maximum possible 12 points, while among C ones 88 % — 10 points (p=0.00001). The strength of the lower extremities demonstrated the most marked dynamics with age: the points number decreased by 30 % in O compared to E patients. In women the weakening of lower extremities strength appeared significantly greater than in men, while gender differences were eliminated at age. Maintaining the balance with age decreased by 20 %: 48.7 % E patients received maximally possible 4 points, 66.8 % O — 3 points (p=0.00001). In O group, balances deterioration were more common in men (χ2=8.6, p=0.03), but the degree of imbalance in women was higher: 8 % females failed to perform the tests. In 89% EH patients the speed of usual gait was registered within the age norms: the number of patients with gait speed < 0.8 m/s with age increased from 9 % in E to 17 % in O age. According to the results of SPPB, the incidence of Frailty syndrome was 11.1%, Prefrailty— 22.8%, most patients were classified as “robust”. Conclusions. EH patients C maintain a satisfactory level of physical functioning. Its deterioration with age is mainly due to a decrease in the strength of the lower extremities and disturbance of balance. Frailty syndrome according to SPPB was found in 18 % of O patients, while only in 3.4 % of E patients.