The association between exercise capacity and angiotensin converting enzyme I/D polymorphism in Brazilian hypertensive elderly

Summary Introduction To evaluate the association of the ACE I/D polymorphism with exercise capacity and history of hypertension in physically independent elderly. Summary of facts and results The study sample consisted of 57 health elderly and 57 hypertensive elderly. Genotyping for ACE I/D was performed by polymerase chain reaction. The 6-Minute Walk Test evaluates the subject's functional exercise capacity and was performed in accordance with the guidelines of the American Thoracic Society. The influence of parameters on the risk of hypertension was assessed by analysis of logistic regression. The significance level for all analyses was P  ≤ 0.05. The elderly with the ACE DD genotype were 1.37 (95%CI: 1.09–1.71) more likely to be hypertensive than carriers of the allele I ( P  = 0.006). The hypertensive group exhibited a significantly higher BMI than the normotensive group (OR = 1.16; 95%CI: 1.02–1.33), as well as, elderly with impaired exercise capacity were 1.24 more likely to be hypertensive than those with more preserved exercise capacity (95%CI: 1.09–1.41). Conclusion The physically independent elderly carriers of the DD genotype showed an impaired exercise capacity and consequently an increased risk of hypertension.