Author(s): ZHANG, P., Institution: BEIJING SPORT UNIVERSITY, Country: CHINA, Abstract-ID: 377

INTRODUCTION:
Sleep disorder is highly prevalent among postmenopausal women with hypertension. Long-term exposure to sleep disorder can exacerbate the risk of cardiovascular disease. Improving sleep quality in postmenopausal women with hypertension can not only enhance their quality of life but also serve as a preventive measure against cardiovascular disease. This paper probes into to the effect of fitness walking as an exercise intervention on sleep disorder in postmenopausal women with hypertension and sleep disorder, to provide a non-pharmacological health management strategy for this specific population, improve their quality of life and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.
METHODS:
After recruitment and screening, forty-two postmenopausal women (57.2±2.9yrs) with hypertension and sleep disorder (without training experience) participated in the study that was approved by IRB at Beijing Sport University. They were randomly divided into the control group and exercise intervention group. The cardiorespiratory fitness was evaluated through cardiopulmonary exercise test, then formulated exercise intervention plan. The exercise group carried out 60min of fitness walking intervention, with an intensity of 40% to 69% heart rate reserve, 3 to 4 times per week, total twelve weeks. The control group maintained their usual lifestyle. Morphological, blood, heart rate variability, sleep quality and cerebrovascular function indicators were determined for all participants before and after the intervention.
RESULTS:
1) After intervention, participants in exercise group had significant decreases in blood pressure, score of sleep quality and total score of PSQI(0.48, 2.59, P<0.01), and significant reductions in daytime dysfunction, sleep latency, and total sleep time(0.59, 0.70, 0.36, P<0.05) compared to before intervention. The exercise group also demonstrated significantly decreased level of hs-CRP(0.47mg/mL, P<0.05), IL-6(0.96pg/mL), RVA-Vm and RVA-RI(14.3cm/s, 0.09cm/s, P<0.01). 2) Compared with control group, the exercise group had significant reductions in diastolic blood pressure, significant decreases in daytime dysfunction, sleep latency, sleep medication use, total PSQI score, RVA-RI and LF/HF, significant increase in RVA-Vm(P<0.05), and a very significant decrease in IL-6 level after intervention(P<0.01). 3) Exercise intervention could significantly negatively predict LF/HF(P<0.05) and total PSQI score(P<0.01). And LF/HF had significant predictive effect on total PSQI score(P<0.01).
CONCLUSION:
A 12-week fitness walking intervention significantly improved sleep quality in postmenopausal women with hypertension and sleep disorder, and had a positive impact on blood pressure control, cerebrovascular function, autonomic nervous system balance, and level of inflammatory factor. It was suggested that fitness walking as a non-pharmacological treatment for sleep disorder in postmenopausal women with hypertension can help improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.