Aspectos antropométricos, cardiovasculares e de aptidão física: comparação entre normotensos e hipertensos idosos

Abstract

With the aging process changes occur in the anthropometric and physiological profile, and may be accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as systemic arterial hypertension. It is possible that the presence of systemic arterial hypertension will be associated with worsening of health parameters in older adults. The aim of the present study is to relate the anthropometric, cardiovascular and physical fitness aspects among normotensive and hypertensive elderly subjects. Seventy-four elders (68.5 ± 1.1 years) without osteomuscular complications were stratified into two groups: normotensive (G1) and hypertensive (G2). These subjects underwent a structured interview so data on profile of demographic partner characterization general characteristics, health and physical conditions could be obtained. Then, cardiometabolic, anthropometric and physical fitness evaluations were performed. The continuous data were compared by independent t-test and the discrete data ratios were tested by the qui square test. Compared with normotensive subjects, hypertensive patients presented higher waist circumference (93.3 ± 1.9 vs. 99.1 ± 2.0 cm, P = 0.023, respectively) and higher heart rate product (9339.5 ± 217.8 vs. 10605.4 ± 283.3 mmHg.bpm, P = 0.001, respectively). A significant relation was observed between hypertensive group and diabetes (5.4% vs. 20.3%, 0.043), dyslipidemia (2.7% vs. 21.6%, and 0.005) and increased cardiovascular risk (18.9% vs. 41.9%, 0.029). There were no significant relation between the presence of systemic arterial hypertension and the variables of overweight (26.8% vs. 42.3%, 0.306) and presence of heart disease (4.1% vs. 12.2%, 0.163). In the physical fitness tests, there were no significant differences between the normotensive and hypertensive groups (Abdominal resistance: 4.0±1.6 vs. 2.6±1.1 repetitions; P=0.462. Flexibility of lower limbs: 23.0±2.4 vs. 22.6±1.9 cm; P=0.878. Shoulder flexibility: -2.8±1.3 vs. -5.5±1.5 cm; P=0.157. Power of lower limbs: 13.1±1.2 vs. 12.0±0.9 cm; P=0.460. Upper limb strength: 26.8±1.7 vs. 26.6±1.6 kg; P=0.955), respectively. It can be concluded that elderly hypertensive subjects were associated with higher cardiovascular risk and presented higher cardiac work at rest. Although the hypertensive patients present anthropometric and cardiovascular differences, they present physical fitness similar to normotensive ones.