Walking and Blood Pressure in Older Adults With Respiratory Impairment.

Launched by IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY · Sep 5, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

Older adults are particularly susceptible to respiratory impairment (a condition of lung dysfunction) due in part to longer lifetime exposures to air pollutants, tobacco smoke, and physical inactivity. Older adults with respiratory impairment have greater long-term risks of death by cardiovascular disease (CVD) when compared to individuals without respiratory impairment. Impaired lung function tends to run parallel with high blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a determinant of CVD mortality in this population. One approach to lowering blood pressure across the lifespan is by increasi...

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Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Men and women aged 65 years and above.
• • Elevated systolic blood pressure (120mmHg - 159 mmHg), and/or individuals taking medications for high blood pressure with a systolic pressure less than or equal to 159mmHg.
• • Respiratory impairment as assessed by abnormal spirometry (a lung function test). Abnormal spirometric phenotypes include obstructive pattern, restrictive pattern, mixed obstructive/restrictive, and preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm).
• • Non-smoker (defined as being tobacco-free for at least the previous 12-months).
• • Body mass index (BMI) \<42kg/m2.
• • Physically inactive (determined by a 7-day day assessment of step counts using a pedometer, and defined as having an average daily step count \<7,000).
• • Willingness to increase daily steps.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of stroke, heart attack, or cancer diagnosis in the last 6-months.
• • Admission to hospital for a respiratory-related illness (e.g., COPD exacerbation, pneumonia, lung injury, etc.) within the last 3 months.
• • The use of supplemental oxygen.
• • Neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease.
• • Significant mobility limitation (e.g., severe arthritis) that would hinder the ability to increase daily steps.
• • The use of a cane or walker.
• • Participants engaged in another walking study or structured walking program.