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Background: Elderly people have a high prevalence to systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Both comorbidities are closely associated and inflict damage on cardiorespiratory capacity.Methods: In order to assess cardiorespiratory responses to the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) among hypertensive elderly with OSA, we enrolled 28 subjects into two different groups: without OSA (No-OSA: apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) < 5 events/h; n = 15) and with OSA (OSA: AHI ≥ 15 events/h; n = 13). All subjects underwent CPET and polysomnographic assessments. After normality and homogeneity evaluations, independent t test and Pearson’s correlation were performed. The significance level employed was p ≤ 0.05.Results: Hypertensive elderly with OSA presented lower heart rate recovery (HRR) in the second minute (HRR2) in relation to the No-OSA group. A negative correlation between AHI and ventilation (VE) (r = −0.63, p = 0.02) was found in polysomnography and CPET data comparisons, and oxygen saturation (O2S) levels significantly correlated with VE/VCO2slope (r = 0.66, p = 0.01); in addition, No-OSA group presented a positive correlation between oxygen consumption and O2S (r = 0.66, p = 0.01), unlike the OSA group.Conclusions: OSA does not affect the CPET variables in hypertensive elderly, but it attenuates the HRR2. The association between O2S during sleep with ventilatory responses probably occurs due to the adaptations in the oxygen transport system unleashed via mechanical respiratory feedback; thus, it has been identified that OSA compromises the oxygen supply in hypertensive elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based exercise and low-intensity exercise in combination with blood flow restriction (BFR) are two methods that have independently been shown to improve muscle strength in those of advancing age. The objective of this study was to assess the long-term effect of water-based exercise in combination with BFR on maximum dynamic strength and functional capacity in post-menopausal women. Twenty-eight women underwent an 8-week water-based exercise program. The participants were randomly allocated to one of the three groups: (a) water exercise only, (b) water exercise + BFR, or (c) a non-exercise control group. Functional capacity (chair stand test, timed up and go test, gait speed, and dynamic balance) and strength testing were tested before and after the 8-week aquatic exercise program. The main findings were as follows: (1) water-based exercise in combination with BFR significantly increased the lower limb maximum strength which was not observed with water-based exercise alone and (2) water-based exercise, regardless of the application of BFR, increased functional performance measured by the timed up and go test over a control group. Although we used a healthy population in the current study, these findings may have important implications for those who may be contraindicated to using traditional resistance exercise. Future research should explore this promising modality in these clinical populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original version of this article was published online containing two items that require correction, namely the abstract (Results section) and Table 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]