Effects of aerobic exercise training and irbesartan on blood pressure and heart rate variability in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The present pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of an aerobic exercise training (AET) program alone or combined with an antihypertensive agent (irbesartan) to reduce blood pressure (BP) and enhance heart rate variability (HRV) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. METHODS: Twenty-one patients were randomly assigned to a double-blind treatment with exercise and placebo (n= 11) or exercise and irbesartan (n= 10). Subjects underwent 24 h BP monitoring and 24 h electrocardiographic recording before and after the 12-week AET HRV a, investigated Using three indexes from the power spectral analysis and three indexes calculated from the time domain. The AFT program consisted of exercising on a calibrated ergocycle for 30 min three times per week. Five patients in the placebo group were excluded during flollow-up because they were not compliant. RESULTS: There was no change in 24 h systolic and diastolic BP before (130 +/- 14 mmHg, and 70 +/- 3 mmHg, respectively) and after (128 +/- 8 mmHg and 70 +/- 8 mmHg, respectively) exercise training in the placebo group, whereas in the irbesartan group Systolic and diastolic BP decreased from 135 +/- 9 mmHg and 76 +/- 9 mmHg to 126 +/- 12 mmHg and 72 +/- 8 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.02). There were no changes in HRV parameters in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that a 12-week AET program is not associated with a significant reduction in BP or enhancement in HRV, whereas an AET program combined with irbesartan is associated with a reduction in 24 h BP.