Relationship between exercise capacity and physical fitness in elderly people with chronic heart failure and chronic respiratory failure

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between exercise capacity and physical fitness in healthy elderly people and elderly subject with chronic respiratory failure and chronic heart failure, and whether that relationship differs depending on level of exercise capacity. Methods: Measurements were made in 15 healthy elderly people, 17 people with chronic respiratory failure, and 15 people with chronic heart failure in the incremental shuttle walking test timed up and go test functional reach test one leg balance test grip force, knee extension force, half-squat test step test and sitting trunk flexion. The correlation between incremental shuttle walking test distance and other variables was compared between the disease groups, and between groups with incremental shuttle walking test distance under and over 450 m, which was the index of physical capacity for heart transplant Results: In the disease groups, more physical fitness variables correlated with exercise capacity than in the healthy elderly group. The under-450 m group had poorer balance, muscular endurance, and agility than the over-450 m group. In the under-450 m group, exercise capacity was correlated with balance, muscle power, and agility. Conclusions: In elderly people with chronic respiratory failure and chronic heart failure, exercise capacity is influenced by various factors of physical performance. Training to improve physical fitness may be necessary for elderly people with incremental shuttle walking test distance of below 450 m.