Hemodynamic changes after an intensive short-term exercise and nutrition program in hypertensive and obese patients...

To assess the effectiveness of the Pritikin diet and exercise program on cardiovascular hemodynamics using the noninvasive technique of Thoracic Electrical Bioimpedance (TEB).

Twenty subjects divided in two groups, according to their body habitus and hemodynamic disturbances. These data were compared to a group of 10 healthy individuals not involved in the program. Hemodynamic parameters were collected at admission and at the end of the intensive 26-day program of exercise and nutrition.

In obese and hypertensive subjects not on medication we observed that cardiac index increased from 3.27 +/- 0.4 to 3.58 + 0.5 L/min/m2; mean arterial pressure decreased from 100 +/- 8.5 to 94.8 +/- 7.9 mmHg while systemic vascular resistance index decreased from 2362 +/- 391 to 1934 +/- 357 dynes. sec. cm-5/m2; p less than 0.05 (Data obtained in supine position). Also documented was a improvement in ventricular performance after postural changes from upright to supine based on indices of left ventricular performance, uniquely obtained by the TEB technique. From admission to discharge, changes were: Ejection fraction 48% to 53%; Peak flow index 295 to 316 ml/s/m2 and Index of contractility 40 to 47 s-1, explained by a shift on the ascending limb of the Starling curve.

In a selected population, this rehabilitation program is effective for hemodynamic improvement that can be partially explained by metabolic and biochemical changes already reported from this Center.