Abstract
PURPOSE: Hypertension is still a growing problem in public health, presenting higher rates among elderlies. Recent studies have pointed out that hypertension may be an independent factor impairing the lung function. In addition, several studies have demonstrated that physical activity promotes beneficial effects in hypertensive individuals, but never before the impact of physical activity on lung function and mechanics in hypertensive and non-hypertensive elderlies have been evaluated. METHODS: 110 physically active hypertensive elderlies (ActH; 69.39 ± 5.49 years old) and 187 sedentary hypertensive elderlies (SedH; 70.09 ± 7.51). The inclusion criteria: no respiratory diseases, unable to perform spirometry test, no respiratory infections in the last 30 days. Lung function (spirometry) and lung mechanics (by impulse oscillometry) was evaluated according to American Thoracic Society recommendations by using IOS Masterscreen Jaeger (Germany). Graph Pad Prism 5.0 was used to perform statistical analysis and p<0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The analysis of lung function revealed that physical activity preserved the lung function (forced vital capacity - FVC) as demonstrated by comparisong between ActH versus SedH group (3.65 ± 0.05 x 2.79 ± 0.07; p<0.01). Simillary, the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) was higher in ActH when compared with SedH elderlies (2.96 ± 0.04 x 2.12 ± 0.05; p=0.02) as well as the FEV1/FVC relation (84.06 ± 0.77 x 75.99 ± 0.57; p=0.03). Concerning the lung mechanics, the results revealed that physical activity was able to preserve the impairment of distal lung elastance (X5), when compared ActH with SedH elderlies (-1.60 ± 0.19 x -1.47 ± 0.10; p<0.02) and also the impairment of proximal airways resistance (R20Hz), (2.58 ± 0.06 x 3.12 ± 0.09; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity preserves the lung function and mechanics in elderlies in hypertensive elderlies.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
