Comparação da aptidão funcional entre mulheres idosas aparentemente saudáveis daquelas que desenvolveram doenças crônicas

Abstract

Introduction: The Brazilian aging increases progressively each year, and women represent the largest contingent of elderly population, affecting approximately 54.6% of the total. Aging causes a decline in biological functions, physical and functional, as a result, seniors are at increased risk of developing chronic diseases. In turn, older women have a higher number of chronic diseases when compared to men. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the functional fitness of older apparently healthy women from those who developed chronic diseases in the time interval of 5.8 years. Methodology: Longitudinal Study, with two cross sections (Phase 1 - F1, and Phase 3 - F3), with a mean interval of 5.8 years. The sample was composed of 78 elderly women (F3: 73.2 ± 5.2 years). Chronic diseases (DC) were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. The dependent variables were: blood pressure (BP), body mass and height, and waist circumference (WC), and components of functional fitness, being: body mass index (BMI), cardiorespiratory fitness, strength endurance of the upper limbs (FA30) and lower (SLC30), flexibility, dynamic balance and agility (8F: 8-Foot Up and Go). The mean and standard deviation (SD) were calculated to describe the dependent variables. The independent t-test was used to compare variables between dependent groups apparently healthy elderly those who develop AD (p <0.05). Results: In general women who developed adverse health conditions presented clinical data considered borderline or at risk (SBP> 130 mmHg and DBP> 85mmHg - Brazilian Society of Hypertension, 2010 and / or WC> 88.0 cm - American College of Sports Medicine, 2010), and also a lower functional fitness when compared to their healthy peers. These results did not differ statistically, with exceptions for conditions from hypertension and heart disease. Women who developed hypertension had elevated SBP in F1 (84.0 mmHg, SD: 9.8); least resistance and strength of upper limbs (FA30 in F3: 9.4 rep, SD: 9.4) and lower (SLC30 F1: rep 13.0, SD: 2.3) compared to normotensive (SBP F1: 78.1 mmHg and SD: 6.0); FA30 in F3: 12.9 rep and SD: 4.5) and SLC30 F1: 14.7 rep and SD: 1.5). Meanwhile, in women who developed heart disease had a lower physical fitness test that assessed the dynamic balance and agility in F1 (8F: 7.34 sec; SD: 1.50) and F3 (8.40 sec; DP: 3.22) when compared to the apparently healthy (8F F1: 5.83 sec; SD: 1.05 and 8F F3: 6.20 sec; SD: 1.64). However, these data have clinical relevance because older women who developed chronic conditions investigated were those that presented in phase 1 clinical adverse or decreased functional ability. Discussion: These results can be used clinically to aid in the diagnosis of elderly women at risk of health, ie to develop chronic diseases. We emphasize that maintaining the level of physical activity, and especially of regular exercise contributes positively on elderly health because it is considered a factor in chronic disease prevention, and positively influence the performance capability of the same.