Abstract
Menopause is resulting of an expressive reduction in ovarian hormones production during climacteric. This reduction increases the risk of the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases since these hormones influence several physiological mechanisms of regulation of body homeostasis. In this respect, it is known that these hormones, especially estrogens, positively influence cardiovascular autonomic regulation, including through their actions on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), both reducing AT1 receptors expression, as well as decreasing angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. Meanwhile, in women who even before climacteric present cardiovascular disease, like systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), the consequences on cardiovascular autonomic regulation may be even more severe. In this case, pharmacological prescription, including drugs with action on RAAS, associated with changes in lifestyle, such as regular aerobic physical exercise, is often indicated and presents quite encouraging results. However, we do not know whether there are greater cardiovascular autonomic benefits when aerobic physical training is associated with pharmacological treatment with Losartan or Enalapril Maleate, since they are widely used drugs with different mechanisms of action. Objectives: To investigate the effects of pharmacological treatment with Enalapril Maleate and Losartan associated with aerobic physical training on hemodynamics and cardiovascular autonomic control, in hypertensive women both in reproductive age and after physiological menopause. Methods: 80 sedentary hypertensive women will be divided into two large groups; reproductive age group (30-45 years old, N = 40) and postmenopausal group (55-65 years old, N = 40). Each group will be subdivided into two smaller groups; group treated with Enalapril Maleate (N = 20) and group treated with Losartan (N = 20). All groups will be submitted to following experimental procedures in two moments, before and after the 16-week aerobic physical training period on a motorized treadmill; lipid profile; anthropometric analysis; cardiopulmonary fitness assessment through ergospirometric test; cardiovascular autonomic control evaluation through baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate and blood pressure variability analysis.
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