Author(s): LE BOURVELLEC, M., DELPECH, N., BOSQUET, L., ENEA, C., GELLEN, B., Institution: UNIVERSITÉ DE POITIERS, Country: FRANCE, Abstract-ID: 893

INTRODUCTION:
Menopause is a key stage in women’s life, marked by physiological and psychological alterations, both increasing cardiovascular (CV) risk. This period is also frequently associated with a decline in physical activity levels (PAL), leading to deconditioning and thereby to reduced exercise tolerance (ET), contributing to an increased CV risk. Thus, an adapted physical activity (APA) training may help to improve ET and reduce CV risk. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of an aerobic moderate-intensity APA training on ET, CV parameters and quality of life (QOL) in sedentary postmenopausal women with reduced ET.
METHODS:
A randomised controlled trial was conducted among postmenopausal women aged <70 years, physically inactive, presenting exertional dyspnoea. The training group completed 24 supervised 60-minute sessions of aerobic moderate-intensity APA over 8-12 weeks, while the control group maintained their lifestyle. Exercise tolerance was assessed using an incremental maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer, measuring V̇O₂ and power output at peak and at the first ventilatory threshold (VT1), and exertional dyspnoea evaluated every minute by the modified Borg scale. Assessed CV parameters included central systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), rest heart rate (HR), subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, endothelial function (flow-mediated dilatation) and blood pressure profile (24-hour, day-and nighttime SBP, DBP). Quality of life was accessed using the Menopause QOL questionnaire (MENQOL) and the SF-36 questionnaire. Data were analysed using repeated-measures ANOVA and cumulative link mixed model with Bonferroni post hoc tests.
RESULTS:
43 women (59 ± 6 years) were randomised, 37 completed the study (19 in the training group). In the training group, V̇O₂ increased post-training compared to pre-training (peak: +2.45 ± 0.48 mL/min/kg, p<0.001; VT1: +2.87 ± 0.55 mL/min/kg, p<0.001), accompanied by increased power output (peak: +14.80 ± 2.25 W, p<0.001; VT1: +17.11 ± 3.34 W, p<0.001). In the control group, power output at peak was increased compared to baseline (+6.50 ± 2.31 W, p=0.048), but not the other parameters. Modified-Borg dyspnoea scores were reduced by APA training (p<0.0001). Concerning CV parameters, training increased SEVR (+12.0 ± 3.43 %, p=0.008), decreased rest HR (-5.7 ± 1.1 bpm, p<0.001), and reduced daytime DBP (-2.56 ± 0.91 mmHg, p=0.048) compared to baseline. An improvement was observed in MENQOL physical subscale (-0.88 ± 0.23, p=0.003) and the SF-36 physical functioning score (+8.61 ± 2.72, p=0.019) in the training group compared to baseline. No differences on CV markers or QOL was noted in the control group.
CONCLUSION:
Aerobic moderate-intensity APA training is a promising strategy for improving ET and CV risk markers in inactive postmenopausal women, while enhancing perceived physical functioning, and potentially sustaining recommended PAL.