Immersible ergocycle prescription as a function of relative exercise intensity

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between various expressions of relative exercise intensity percentage of maximal oxygen uptake(%VO_(2max)), percentage of maximal heart rate(%HR_(max)), %VO_2 reserve(%VO_2R), and %HR reserve(%HRR)) in order to obtain the more appropriate method for exercise intensity prescription when using an immersible ergocycle(IE) and to propose a prediction equation to estimate oxygen consumption(VO_2) based on IE pedaling rate(rpm) for an individualized exercise training prescription.Methods: Thirty-three healthy participants performed incremental exercise tests on IE and dryland ergocycle(DE) at equal external power output(Pext). Exercise on IE began at 40 rpm and was increased by 10 rpm until exhaustion. Exercise on DE began with an initial load of 25 W and increased by 25 W/min until exhaustion. VO_2 was measured with a portable gas analyzer(COSMED K4b^2) during both incremental tests. On IE and DE, %VO_2R, %HRmax, and %HRR at equal Pext did not differ(p > 0.05).Results: The %HRR vs. %VO_2R regression for both IE and DE did not differ from the identity line %VO_2R IE = 0.99 × HRR IE(%) + 0.01(r^2= 0.91, SEE = 11%); %VO_2R DE = 0.94 × HRR DE(%) + 0.01(r^2= 0.94, SEE = 8%). Similar mean values for %HRmax, %VO_2R, and %HRR at equal Pext were observed on IE and DE. Predicted VO_2 obtained according to rpm on IE is represented by: VO_2(L/min) = 0.000542 × rpm2-0.026 × rpm + 0.739(r = 0.91, SEE = 0.319 L/min).Conclusion: The %HRR–%VO_2R relationship appears to be the most accurate for exercise training prescription on IE. This study offers new tools to better prescribe, control, and individualize exercise intensity on IE.

问卷调查是验证降压治疗依从性的可靠方法吗?一项欧洲中部的国际研究

Background: Non-compliance with prescribed antihypertensive medication is an important contributor to the failure of antihypertensive therapy. Objective: To assess the validity of a short questionnaire in the identification of non-compliant patients. Methods: In three central-European countries, work-site screening for hypertension was conducted. Blood pressure was measured using an automatic electronic blood pressure measuring device(BpTRU). Respondents were interviewed by trained personnel and a short questionnaire focused on blood pressure awareness and treatment compliance was completed. Results: A total of 2812 persons were screened: 841(29.9%) respondents were hypertensive, and out of these the total number of treated hypertensive subjects was 359(42.6%). Mean systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in the compliant group than the non-compliant group(systolic blood pressure, 139.4 and 146.2 mmHg, respectively, P=0.002; and diastolic blood pressure, 89.2 and 92.3 mmHg, respectively, P< 0.01). The non-compliant group was younger than the compliant group(mean age, 46.7 versus 48.9 years, respectively, P=0.01). Females, patients on combined therapy and non-smokers were more compliant than males, those on mono-therapy and smokers(P=0.01, P=0.004 and P=0.005, respectively). Conclusion: Patients reporting strict compliance with prescribed drug therapy have significantly lower systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure than those who admit even an occasional lapse in taking medication. A properly formulated questionnaire can identify non-compliant patients.