Low physical activity and depression may be related to cognitive impairment in the elderly.Objetive:To determine depression and physical activity (PA) among older adults with and without cognitive impairment.Methods:156 older adults, both males and females, aged ≥60 years, were asked to complete the Thai Mini-Mental State Examination (Thai-MMSE), a global cognitive impairment screening tool. Seventy-eight older adults with cognitive impairment and 78 older adults without cognitive impairment were then separately administered two questionnaires (i.e., the Thai Geriatric Depression Scale; TGDS and Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; GPAQ). Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the risk of developing cognitive impairment in the groups of older individuals with and without cognitive impairment.Results:A cross-sectional study of elderly with a mean age of 74.47 ± 8.14 years was conducted. There were significant differences on the depression scale and in PA between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Further, participants with low PA and high level of depressive symptoms had an increased risk of cognitive impairment (Odds ratio = 4.808 and 3.298, respectively).Conclusion:Significant differences were noted in PA and on depression scales between older adults with and without cognitive impairment. Therefore, increased PA and decreased depressive symptoms (i.e., having psychological support) are suggested to reduce the risks of cognitive impairment in older adults.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to develop a prototype of a novel respiratory device that we validated and assessed clinically and examined the effect of prototype of respiratory device on blood pressure (BP). Methods Prototype of respiratory device (TU-Breath Training) was designed with pressure cuff and application software was created. The immediate effect of resisted breathing was determined in 20 adults with high BP (systolic BP ≥ 130 mmHg and diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg). A crossover study was designed. A total of 20 eligible participants were asked to sit quietly for 10 min. Heart rate (HR), BP, and oxygen saturation (SpO2) were measured and recorded. After the resting period, all participants were randomized and counterbalanced for undergoing the set of inspiratory muscle training by TU-Breath Training and control group. A set of respiratory training were composed of 10 times per set for three sets, while the control group was asked to sit for 10 min. Results After inspiratory training, both the systolic and diastolic BP decreased significantly. Compared with control group, using TU-Breath Training decreased systolic BP (−7.00 ± 5.93 mmHg) and diastolic BP (−5.95 ± 8.88 mmHg), but did not show differences in HR and SpO2. Conclusion The study indicated that in high-BP participants, the prototype of respiratory device (TU-Breath Training) elicits decreased BP.

Objectives: Faster recovery of postexertional dyspnea might enable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to undertake more physical activity.The purpose of this study was to determine whether breathing with a positive expiratory load to reduce dynamic hyperinflation (DH) would hasten recovery.Methods: Thirteen male COPD patients (59 ± 7 years; Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease Stages II and III) took part in a randomized cross-over trial in which they exercised by self-paced spot marching. Interventions at the end of exercise consisted of six breaths against either a 5-cm H 2 O expiratory load (positive expiratory pressure [PEP]) or no load (Sham), with 3-hr rest between interventions. Recovery was followed for the next 10 min. Primary outcome measures were dyspnea during recovery and inspiratory capacity (IC), measured at rest, at the end of exercise and after the intervention; oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO 2 , heart rate, and breathing frequency were also monitored.Results: Patients exercised for 5 min reaching a heart rate of 70% age-predicted maximum and developed dyspnea of 3-4 on the Modified Borg CR10 scale. Dyspnea recovered significantly faster after the PEP intervention in all patients, taking 2.8 ± 0.4 min to return to baseline compared with 5.1 ± 0.6 min for Sham (p < 0.01). IC declined at the end of exercise and was improved by PEP (+270 220-460 ml, median, interquartile range) more than Sham (+100, 40-160 ml).However, PEP was equally effective in reducing dyspnea in all patients irrespective of the degree of DH. Changes in oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO 2 , heart rate, and breathing frequency were similar in PEP and Sham.Conclusions: Positive expiratory pressure breathing is an effective means of reducing postexercise dyspnea and DH in COPD. The benefits were not limited to patients with high DH suggesting PEP may be used to speed recovery and increase the volume of exercise during pulmonary rehabilitation sessions and physical activity at home or work.

Poor air quality is an important problem in several countries, especially in northern Thailand. Several studies have reported the association between these problems and risks of human health. However, little is known regarding the effects of the air quality on cardio-respiratory systems among people of different ages. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of air quality on pulmonary function and cardiovascular endurance before high PM10, high PM10, and after high PM10 periods in children, adults and elderly groups in the north of Thailand. A prospective cohort study with three different periods was designed. A sample of 450 participants (i.e., children, adults, and elderly people) was random, and were recruited in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, and Nan. Pulmonary function tests and cardiovascular endurance were measured by spirometer and six-minute walk distance (6MWD), respectively. A total of 335 participants were recruited; 96 children, 119 adults and 120 elderly people. For pulmonary function, force expiratory volume in first second/Force vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) in the children's group found significant differences when compared before high PM10-high PM10 period ( 2.289%) and before high PM10-after high PM10 period ( 2.324%). Also, 6MWD found significant differences in children, adults, and elderly groups when compared before high PM10-high PM10 period ( 80.480,  36.640, and  25.511 meter, respectively) and before high PM10-after high PM10 period ( 70.488,  22.874, and  16.374 meter, respectively). Therefore, air quality had a negative effect on the cardiorespiratory system.

Background: Poor psychological health and cardiorespiratory fitness prior to open heart surgery (OHS) might be predictors of postoperative pulmonary complications that lead to morbidity and mortality. Assessment of physical and psychological conditions should be considered for patients receiving OHS, to possibly prevent these complications. This study investigates how inspiratory muscle strength (IMS) and functional capacity (FC) relate to the psychological health of preoperative cardiac surgery patients. Method: A cross-sectional study was designed before OHS; the 6-minute walk test and IMS were performed on patients who were admitted for OHS. All participants were requested to complete Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Pearson correlation and hierarchal regression analysis were performed to determine the relationships between IMS and FC and psychological conditions (anxiety and depression). Results: Overall, 36 males and 28 females aged 56.89±10.23 years were recruited. Significant relationships were observed between IMS and anxiety and depression symptoms (r = –0.33 and r = –0.27, respectively). Anxiety was negatively related to FC ( r = –0.25). These relationships remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) (∆ R2 = 0.11 and ∆ R2 = 0.09). In addition, anxiety was also related to FC after controlling for age, sex, and BMI (∆ R2 = 0.09). Conclusion: Among patients undergoing OHS, those with a higher level of depression or anxiety had a lower cardiorespiratory fitness than those with a low level of depression or anxiety.