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Objective To identify the differences in cardiac autonomic control between older people with good and poor sleep quality. Material and Methods This is a cross-sectional study with 40 older people aged ≥ 60 years, registered at a community health center in Petrolina, Pernambuco, Brazil. The sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). To assess heart rate variability (HRV), the RR intervals (RRI) were recorded for 10 min with a validated smartphone app and a wireless transmitter Polar H7 positioned on the patient's chest. The HRV parameters were calculated with Kubios HRV, and the data were analyzed in SPSS. Subjects with good and poor sleep quality (PSQI >5) were compared with the Mann-Whitney U test. Results A total of 31 older people were included in the final analysis, with 18 (58.1%) of them having poor sleep quality. Older people with good sleep quality have similar cardiac autonomic control to those with poor sleep quality. The medians of time (mean RRI, pNN50, SDNN, and RMSSD) and frequency-domain HRV parameters (LFms², LFnu, HFms², HFnu, and LF/HF ratio) were statistically similar (p > .05) in older people with good and poor sleep quality. According to the effect size, the HRV indicators were slightly better among those with good sleep quality. Conclusion There were no statistical differences in cardiac autonomic control between older people with good and poor sleep quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study aimed to compare cardiorespiratory effects in men with restrictive lung disorders, according to the abdominal circumference (AC), undergoing respiratory physical therapy. Materials and methods: Quasi-experimental study with a sample 26 men with forced vital capacity (FVC)pred <80%, who were divided into two groups: AC (cm) < 102 (ACfree_risk) and ≥ 102 (ACrisk). Heart rate variability (HRV), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), blood pressure (BP), lung capacities and maximal expiratory pressure (PEmax) were measured at rest (T1), immediately after physical therapy intervention (T2), which consisted of breathing exercises for pulmonary expansion, active kinesiotherapy to lower and upper limbs, and after 30 min (T3). The statistical tests used were ANOVA and independent t tests (p <.05). Results: ACrisk had the highest values for slow vital capacity (SVC), inspiratory capacity (IC), PEmax and systolic BP (p <.05); there was an increase in HRV (T2), SpO2 (%) [95.0 (2.5) to 96.6 (1.4)] and IC (l) [2.4 (0.5) to 2.7 (0.6)] (T3). Conclusions: Men with restrictive respiratory disorders and AC ≥102 has higher values in the inspiratory capacities and arterial pressure level, and benefit from respiratory physiotherapy by differential increase in IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Heart rate variability (HRV) decreases after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) due to changes in cardiac autonomic balance. The purpose of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate the effects of a progressive exercise protocol used in phase I cardiac rehabilitation on the HRV of patients with post-AMI. Material and methods. Thirty-seven patients who had been admitted to hospital with their first non-complicated AMI were studied. The treated group (TG, n == 21, age == 52 ±± 12 years) performed a 5-day programme of progressive exercise during phase I cardiac rehabilitation, while the control group (CG, n == 16, age == 54 ±± 11 years) performed only respiratory exercises. Instantaneous heart rate (HR) and RR interval were acquired by a HR monitor (Polar®®S810i). HRV was analysed by frequency domain methods. Power spectral density was expressed as normalised units (nu) at low (LF) and high (HF) frequencies, and as LF/HF. Results. After 5 days of progressive exercise, the TG showed an increase in HFnu (35.9 ±± 19.5 to 65.19 ±± 25.4) and a decrease in LFnu and LF/HF (58.9 ±± 21.4 to 32.5 ±± 24.1; 3.12 ±± 4.0 to 1.0 ±± 1.5, respectively) in the resting position ( p < 0.05). No changes were observed in the CG. Conclusions. A progressive physiotherapeutic exercise programme carried out during phase I cardiac rehabilitation, as supplement to clinical treatment increased vagal and decreased sympathetic cardiac modulation in patients with post-AMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of heel rise test (HRT) for assessing the functional capacity (FC) of individuals with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and determine the best sensitivity cutoff point to stratify individuals with worse FC., Methods: This retrospective methodological study included adults of both sexes diagnosed with PAD and intermittent claudication. Individuals performed the HRT (number of plantar flexions, execution time, and execution rate were recorded) and the incremental shuttle walking test (distance walked was recorded). The accuracy analysis and the determination of the sensitivity of the HRT in assessing FC were performed by the receiver operating characteristic curve based on the following incremental shuttle walking test cutoff point: 380 meters. Alpha was set at 5%., Results: In this study, 120 individuals were included (64 ± 9.65 years). The number of plantar flexions showed better accuracy for FC assessment (area under the curve, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.65-0.90). The best sensitivity cutoff to stratify the individuals with the worst FC was 63 plantar flexions (sensitivity, 0.952; specificity, 0.562)., Conclusion: The HRT showed good accuracy, adequate sensitivity, and acceptable specificity in assessing the FC of individuals with PAD. The best sensitivity cutoff point to stratify individuals with worse FC was 63 plantar flexions., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Purpose: The incidence of cardiovascular events is higher in coronary artery disease patients with type 2 diabetes (CAD + T2D) than in CAD patients without T2D. There is increasing evidence that the recovery phase after exercise is a vulnerable phase for various cardiovascular events. We hypothesized that autonomic regulation differs in CAD patients with and without T2D during post-exercise condition., Methods: A symptom-limited maximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer was performed for 68 CAD + T2D patients (age 61 ± 5 years, 78% males, ejection fraction (EF) 67 ± 8, 100% on β-blockade), and 64 CAD patients (age 62 ± 5 years, 80% males, EF 64 ± 8, 100% on β-blockade). Heart rate (HR) recovery after exercise was calculated as the slope of HR during the first 60 s after cessation of exercise (HRR(slope)). R-R intervals were measured before (5 min) and after exercise from 3 to 8 min, both in a supine position. R-R intervals were analyzed using time and frequency methods and a detrended fluctuation method (α(1))., Results: BMI was 30 ± 4 vs. 27 ± 3 kg m(2) (p < 0.001); maximal exercise capacity, 6.5 ± 1.7 vs. 7.7 ± 1.9 METs (p < 0.001); maximal HR, 128 ± 19 vs. 132 ± 18 bpm (p = ns); and HRR(slope), -0.53 ± 0.17 vs. -0.62 ± 0.15 beats/s (p = 0.004), for CAD patients with and without T2D, respectively. There was no differences between the groups in HRR(slope) after adjustment for METs, BMI, and medication (ANCOVA, p = 0.228 for T2D and, e.g., p = 0.030 for METs). CAD + T2D patients had a higher HR at rest than non-diabetic patients (57 ± 10 vs. 54 ± 6 bpm, p = 0.030), but no other differences were observed in HR dynamics at rest or in post-exercise condition., Conclusion: HR recovery is delayed in CAD + T2D patients, suggesting impairment of vagal activity and/or augmented sympathetic activity after exercise. Blunted HR recovery after exercise in diabetic patients compared with non-diabetic patients is more closely related to low exercise capacity and obesity than to T2D itself.