Elderly Subjects Clinical Trial
Official title:
Effects of Respiratory Yoga Training (Bhastrika) on Heart Rate Variability and Baroreflex, and Quality of Life of Healthy Elderly Subjects
The decreases of physiological capacities which take place with senescence include
diminishing respiratory capacity as well as a reduction of heart rate variability and
baroreflex sensibility. Altogether, these alterations increase elderly people's frailty and
have a negative impact over quality of life. Since Yoga (Indian auto-discipline) has a wide
range of respiratory exercises already investigated as components for non-pharmacological
treatments for hypertension (situation in which heart rate variability is also diminished),
the investigators hypothesis is that the training of respiratory exercises of Yoga may have
a significant positive effect on heart rate variability and baroreflex of health elderly
subjects, increasing quality of life and reducing frailty.
We included 30 health elderly subjects (both sexes, from 60 years-old onwards) divided into
2 randomized experimental groups: control (C) and respiration (R). Each group underwent an
entry evaluation, followed by a 4-months training period, after which they were
re-evaluated. Control consisted of 2 stretching classes per week, and respiration consisted
of 2 respiratory exercises classes a week. Both groups were instructed to perform the
exercises at home twice a day, and to keep a record of each session in a log sheet.
Evaluations were: WHOQOL-OLD questionnaire for quality of life, 20 minutes of seated rest
with heart rate, respiration and blood pressure acquired continuously for further spectral
analysis.
Heart rate variability was performed using the autoregressive model, and the baroreflex was
calculated with the spontaneous approach, both with the softwares developed in Milan by
Alberto Porta in a non-invasive way.
The frequency domain analysis of heart rate, respiration and systolic blood pressure were
conducted, consisting of calculating the power spectral density with the minimum error
predicted by Akaike's algorithm. Spectral power was then subdivided into two bands of
physiological interest: low - (LF 0.03-0.15 Hz) indicating predominant sympathetic
modulation, and high - (HF 0.15-0.5 Hz) frequency, indicating parasympathetic modulation of
the heart. The fraction calculated dividing LF by HF (LF/HF ratio) provided information of
sympathovagal balance to the heart. The spectral analysis of Systolic Blood Pressure
provided information of the vasomotor tone, and the integration of heart rate information
with these data also provided information about the spontaneous baroreflex gain.
Other questionnaires used were: Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Questionnaire, Stress Symptoms
Questionnaire by Marilda Lipp - validated in Brazil, and Beck's anxiety and depression
inventories.
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Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
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