Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor use by older adults is associated with greater functional responses to exercise.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) and improvements in the physical function of older adults in response to chronic exercise training.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of the Lifestyle Interventions and Independence for Elders Pilot (LIFE-P) study, a multisite randomized clinical trial to evaluate the effects of chronic exercise on the physical function of older adults at risk for mobility disability.


METHODS
Four academic research centers within the United States.


METHODS
Four hundred twenty-four individuals aged 70 to 89 with mild to moderate functional impairments categorized for this analysis as ACEi users, users of other antihypertensive drugs, or antihypertensive nonusers.


METHODS
A 12-month intervention of structured physical activity (PA) or health education promoting successful aging (SA).


METHODS
Change in walking speed during a 400-m test and performance on a battery of short-duration mobility tasks (Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB)).


RESULTS
Physical activity significantly improved the adjusted walking speed of ACEi users (P < .001) but did not of nonusers. PA improved the adjusted SPPB score of ACEi users (P < .001) and of persons who used other antihypertensive drugs (P = .005) but not of antihypertensive nonusers (P = .91).The percentage of ACEi users deriving clinically significant benefit from exercise training for walking speed (30%) and SPPB score (48%) was dramatically higher than for nonusers (14% and 12%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
For older adults at risk for disability, exercise-derived improvements in physical function were greater for ACEi users than users of other antihypertensive drugs and antihypertensive nonusers.
Department of Aging and Geriatric Research, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32607, USA. tbuford@ufl.edu
Thomas W
TW
Buford
Todd M
TM
Manini
Fang-Chi
FC
Hsu
Matteo
M
Cesari
Stephen D
SD
Anton
Susan
S
Nayfield
Randall S
RS
Stafford
Timothy S
TS
Church
Marco
M
Pahor
Christy S
CS
Carter
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors