Efeitos de exercícios físicos sobre fatores de risco cardiovascular em idosos hipertensos

Objective: To assess the effects of an exercise program on the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in sedentary hypertensive older adults. Methods: This is a nonrandomized clinical trial carried out in a physical therapy teaching clinic in Sao Paulo in 2016 with a sample of 34 older adults who performed a ninety-minute exercise program twice a week for three months. The analyzed variables were: blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol fractions, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Data were compared in two stages, before and after the exercise program, with p<0.0001 in all cases using the Wilcoxon test. Results: The median age of the participants (interquartile range) was 63 (61-66) years, with 25 (74%) women. After three months, there was a statistically significant reduction in weight, body mass index, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the analyzed older adults (p<0.0001 in all cases). Conclusion: The exercise program was effective in reducing cardiovascular risk factors in the sedentary hypertensive older adults analyzed.