Cardiovascular and functional adaptations, health-related outcomes and safety of different intensities of community-based exercise in older women under socioeconomic vulnerability: The COmmunity-Based EXercise in OLD age (COBEX-OLD) study

• Grant number: 24/04035-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: January 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physical Education
• Principal Investigator: Emmanuel Gomes Ciolac
• Grantee: Emmanuel Gomes Ciolac
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Bauru
• Associated researchers: Artur Junio Togneri Ferron ; CRISTIAN GABRIEL ALVAREZ LEPIN ; Marcone Lima Sobreira ; Raphael Martins de Abreu ; Rodrigo Gibin Jaldin

Abstract

The aging process is characterized by changes in almost all physiological systems, including cardiovascular, metabolic and musculoskeletal functions. These changes are potentialized by unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as insufficient levels of physical activity and high sedentary behavior. As a result, the aging process is associated with an increased risk of noncommunicable chronic diseases, and impairments in physical fitness and quality of life, with the risk and impairments being even more pronounced in people under socioeconomic vulnerability. The regular practice of physical exercise is a well-established tool to counteract numerous age-related disorders, and community-based exercise programs seem to be an effective strategy to reduce some barriers to exercise for people under socioeconomic vulnerability. In addition, community-based exercise programs appear to be effective for improving physical fitness, cardiometabolic risk factors, balance and risk of falls in older people. However, most studies investigating the effects of community-based exercise programs had a short follow-up and were limited to analyzing the effect of moderate-intensity multicomponent exercise interventions on a few risk factors and/or physical fitness parameters. Indeed, most of these studies lack of adequate methodological design. and analysis of its safety/tolerance. Thus, the present investigation will be a prospective, randomized and single-blind study aiming to investigate cardiovascular and physical functional adaptations, health-related outcomes and safety of community-based exercise programs of different intensities in older women under socioeconomic vulnerability. At least 81 elderly women will be included in the study and will undergo anthropometric (body mass, height and body mass index), arterial (heart rate, blood pressure, heart rate variability, arterial stiffness, endothelial function and carotid myointimal thickness) and venous hemodynamic function (clinical, perimetry and ultrasound assessment of lower limbs), cardio metabolic health parameters (Cardiovascular Health Index "Life's Essential 8"), physical functional capacity (flexibility, handgrip strength, lower limb strength, mobility and endurance performance), quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF and WHOQOL-OLD) and mental health markers (Brunel mood scale) assessments. Participants will then be randomized into three groups: high-intensity interval training associated with resistance training (HIIT+RT, n = 27), moderate-intensity continuous training associated with RT (MICT+RT, n = 27) or control (n = 27). Randomization will be in clusters, with at least two clusters in each group. After randomization, participants will undergo a community physical exercise program (HIIT+RT or MITC+RT) or control follow-up, and will be reevaluated after six and 12 months. The safety of community-based exercise programs will be assessed, throughout the 12-month follow-up, using a structured questionnaire on the occurrence of potential acute (during the exercise session) and late (in the interval between sessions) adverse events. Community-based exercise programs will consist of two weekly sessions, with at least one day between them, of 5 min of warm-up, 20 to 50 min (progressive volume throughout the session) of specific training (HIIT+RT or MITC+RT) and 5 min coll-down, totaling 30 to 60 min per session. (AU)