1. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND HYPERTENSION IN ELDERLY GROUP
Silvio Lopes Alabarse, Japy A. Oliveira Filho, Maurício dos Santos, Thiago C. Florentino, Washington dos Santos Oliveira, Marco T. Mello, Valdir A. Moises and Sergio Tufik
Federal University of São Paulo – Discipline of Cardiology - Brazil
INTRODUCTION
It is known that the world population is getting old, a phenomenon that is also happening due to the better control of diseases. According to the World Health Organization, the current and future demographic changes are relevant and certainly we will not see societies with a large base of young or few elderly, in relation to the epidemiological aspects. Solid projections indicate that in 2050, the number of elderly people will surpass the young for the first time in human history (Franchi 2005). Regarding the aging epidemiological aspects, it is important to approach a study conducted in the UK which reports that most social changes aiming to improve quality of life, to reduce disabilities and dependencies in the elderly. Getting older is associated with the increasing risks of independence, mobility, hearing and vision loss (Khaw 1997). One in four people who have chronic high blood pressure at some stage of life has prevalence of hypertension. Arterial hypertension is an important factor of a relevant cardiovascular risk and its diagnosis is performed with the same strategy of a young adult (Izar 2013). Surveys indicate that 65% of elderly people have arterial hypertension (AH). In developing countries, such as Brazil, the prevalence has varied characteristics, as the city of São Paulo (Midwest of Brazil), for example, with 22.3%. In isolation, it increases the risk of cardiovascular problems in approximately 40% and in 25% of deaths due to strokes and coronary heart diseases. The physical activity (PA) is defined as any body movement that produces muscle contraction, resulting in increased calorie expenditure, therefore being a generic term. When the PA is performed in a systematic way, it helps in the arterial hypertension control, increasing HDL-C rate, decreasing triglycerides and body mass, providing an improvement in glucose levels. Having as consequence: the prevention of coronary heart disease and reduction of mortality (Izar 2013). Given all these factors, we believe in a substantial importance to analyse the physical activity rates in the elderly people, relating to the arterial hypertension, identifying the action plan when the daily exercise is related to pathology. So, we have more indicative guidelines on exercise and social planning to provide effective actions to lower costs to elderly population, so we avoid complications of this pathology and offer a more successful aging.
OBJECTIVE
Analyse the physical activity rates in the elderly people, relating to the arterial hypertension.
RESULTS
Table 1: Sample
Characteristics
47 elderly people
69.8 years (± 5.7)
82.9% female
53.2% hypertensive
Table 2: Groups
Hypertensive Group
Non-Hypertensive Group
68.4 years (± 5.0)
71.2 years (± 6.4)
80.8% female
86.4% female
94.5% did not work
METHOD
We recruited 470 elderly, aged 60 years or above, from a reference centre for the elderly. Then, we randomized 25 cases of hypertension and 22 cases of no hypertension. After this phase, we measured the level of physical activity through the "International Physical Activity Questionnaire" (IPAQ long) applied by trained professionals and aware of the protocol. This questionnaire is recommended by the World Health Organization and validated for the Brazilian population. It is estimated the time spent on physical activities in one week, classified as moderate or vigorous intensity, for different scenarios of daily life: work, transport, housework and leisure. The cut-off on physical activity (PA) was established as at least 150 minutes of PA per week. The volunteers were classified as hypertensive or not hypertensive by self-report. We classified as hypertensive cases those with systolic blood pressure equal or over 140 mmHg and diastolic of 90 mmHg, according to Brazilian guidelines of hypertension. To examine the comparison between hypertension and physical activity, it was used the "chi-square" (Χ2), with a value of p ≤ All signed the consent term after a detailed explanation. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Paulo under registration 05599/03.
Table 3: Relationship between physical activity and hypertension
Physical Activity
Relationship
by means of transport or leisure
↓ p = 0.95
tasks developed in domestic activities and the total weekly time spent in physical activity
↑ p = 0.02
CONCLUSION
Conclude that in decreased levels of physical activities in transportation, leisure and work, there is a low association with hypertension. However, high levels of physical activities in the home environment, as well as the total time of physical activity accumulated weekly may be related to the absence of hypertension in the elderly..  
SUPPORT