Characteristics of blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and physical fitness in older adult Japanese community dwellers: a cross-sectional observational study

Abstract

The numbers of "old-old" and "young-old" adults (age ≥75 y [years] and 65-74 y, respectively) are now about the same, but less is known about the physiological characteristics such as arterial stiffness in old-old adults, especially those aged >85 y. Therefore, the present cross-sectional observational study aimed to determine the characteristics of blood pressure (BP), arterial stiffness, and physical fitness among 559 (male, n = 213; female, n = 346) Japanese community dwellers aged >65 y in Osaka and Kawakami Village, Nara. BP and arterial stiffness were measured in the supine position using a semi-automated device. Physical fitness was assessed by measuring handgrip strength and walking speed, as well as findings of the sit-and-reach and pegboard tests. Values for systolic BP, mean BP, and arterial stiffness were significantly higher in the old-old than young-old community dwellers. Trends in BP and arterial stiffness significantly increased, whereas those of physical fitness significantly decreased with age per decade. This is the first study to show that the physiological characteristics of BP, arterial stiffness, and physical fitness in Japanese community-dwelling older adults over 80 y. These novel findings indicate that community-dwelling older adults, especially nonagenarians, can maintain the longevity characteristics of lower arterial stiffness and higher physical fitness such as handgrip strength.

Acute effects of low-intensity one-legged electrical muscle stimulation on arterial stiffness in experimental and control limbs

“…First, we calculated appropriate sample sizes before the study, but the cohort of participants was homogeneous, comprising healthy young male individuals. In general, large elastic arteries progressively stiffen with age 28 , 43 . Additional interventions for elderly subjects and individuals with high blood pressure may thus reveal important insights into the alterations and adaptations of arterial stiffness with EMS.…”

Decreased nerve conduction velocity may be a predictor of fingertip dexterity and subjective complaints

“…2A). The fingertip dexterity test consisted of a combination test and a disassembly test using a pegboard (T.K.K.1306 Hand-Finger Testing Device; Takei Scientific Instruments Co., Ltd.) (Nishiwaki et al 2019) (Fig. 2B).…”

Poor Walking Speed Is Associated With Higher Segment-Specific Arterial Stiffness in Older Adult Japanese Community Dwellers: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Trunk flexibility was measured with the sit-andreach test using a T-283 device (Toei Light, Tokyo, Japan) as described (Nishiwaki et al, 2014b(Nishiwaki et al, , 2015. The 6 m walk test proceeded as follows (Dumurgier et al, 2009;Nishiwaki et al, 2018Nishiwaki et al, , 2019b. The participants started to walk 3 m before a start line to exclude the duration of acceleration from normal walking speed, then walked as fast as possible without running for 6 m. The walk time during the 6 m walking was measured in duplicate using a stopwatch and the mean values were used.…”

“…In order to compare the observed maximum walking speed with the theoretical optimal walking speed of the elderly (OWS), the locomotor rehabilitation index (LRI) was also calculated by using following formula; LRI (%) = walking speed (maximum) / 0.25 • 9.81 • participants' height • 0.54 • 100 (Gomenuka et al, 2019). All daily CVs were < 10% (Nishiwaki et al, 2014b(Nishiwaki et al, , 2015(Nishiwaki et al, , 2017c(Nishiwaki et al, , 2018(Nishiwaki et al, , 2019b.…”

“…Increased arterial stiffness has been identified as an independent risk factor for future cardiovascular diseases or mortality (Laurent and Boutouyrie, 2007;Vlachopoulos et al, 2010;Vlachopoulos et al, 2012;Ohkuma et al, 2017). Arterial stiffness progressively increases with advancing age even among healthy individuals (Tomiyama et al, 2003;Nishiwaki et al, 2014bNishiwaki et al, , 2019b, but the degree is modulated by levels of physical fitness or physical activity (PA). In fact, higher levels of physical fitness or PA are associated with less arterial stiffness among older people (Yamamoto et al, 2009;Gando et al, 2010;Nishiwaki et al, 2014b;Gando et al, 2016), and regular PA can also reduce arterial stiffness even among older people (Miura et al, 2015;Nishiwaki et al, 2018).…”