Circulatory and ventilatory power in diabetic patients: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Circulatory (CP) and ventilatory power (VP) have been used to improve the prognostic accuracy of cardiopulmonary exercise tests in cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease. However, the effects of combined resistance and aerobic exercise program on VP and CP, especially in type 2 diabetes patients, have not been adequately investigated. Thus, this new parameter can be useful to prescribe exercise programs more assertive for this population. The present study aimed to assess the effect of 3 months of combined resistance and aerobic exercise training (CET) on CP and VP in patients with type 2 diabetes.

A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving 48 diabetic patients with an average age of 52.4 (±8.01) years old. The subjects were randomized into two groups: sedentary (SG, n = 15) and the CET group (n = 19). Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (symptom-limited incremental) was performed on a cycle ergometer, and the following parameters were measured: relative VO₂ , V_E /VCO₂ slope, linear relationship between oxygen uptake and minute ventilation, and VCO₂ . CET was performed with 30-min aerobic and 30-min resistance exercises three times a week for 12 weeks.

Significant (p < .05) and clinical (d ≥ .80) differences were observed that favoured CET compared with SG for the following variables: heart rate, workload, VO₂ relative peak, circulatory power peak, and VCO₂ peak. Although no statistical difference was observed for ventilatory power, there was a clinical difference (p > .05 and d ≥ 0.80) that favoured CET.

Three months of combined exercise training improved VP and CP indices in patients with type 2 diabetes when compared with a sedentary group.