Benavent Caballer, Vicente

Background: Internet-based interventions are a promising strategy for promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors. These have a tremendous potential for delivering electronic health interventions in scalable and cost-effective ways. There is strong evidence that the use of these programs can lead to weight loss and can lower patients’ average blood pressure (BP) levels. So far, few studies have investigated the effects of internet-based programs on patients who are obese with hypertension (HTN). Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the short- and long-term efficacy, in terms of body composition and BP parameters, of a self-administered internet-based intervention involving different modules and learning techniques aimed at promoting lifestyle changes (both physical activity and healthy eating) in patients who are obese with HTN. Methods: A randomized wait-list controlled trial design was used. We recruited 105 adults with HTN who were overweight or obese and randomly assigned them to either a 3-month internet-based intervention group (n=55) or the wait-list control group (n=50). We assessed BMI (primary outcome), body fat mass (BFM), systolic (S)BP and diastolic (D)BP, blood glucose and insulin levels, physical activity levels, and functional capacity for aerobic exercise at Time 0 (preintervention) and Time 1 (postintervention). All the patients in the wait-list control group subsequently received the intervention, and a secondary within-group analysis, which also included these participants, was conducted at Time 2 (12-month follow-up). Results: A 2-way mixed analysis of covariance showed a significant decrease in BMI, BFM, and blood glucose at 3 months in the internet-based intervention group; the effect size for the BMI and BFM parameters was moderate to large, and there was also a borderline significant trend for DBP and insulin. These results were either maintained or improved upon at Time 2 and showed significant changes for BMI (mean difference −0.4, 95% CI −0.1 to −0.6; P=.005), BFM (mean difference −2.4, 95% CI −1.1 to −3.6; P<.001), DBP (mean difference −1.8, 95% CI −0.2 to −3.3; P=.03), and blood glucose (mean difference −2, 95% CI 0 to −4; P=.04). Conclusions: Implementation of our self-administered internet-based intervention, which involved different learning techniques aimed to promote lifestyle changes, resulted in positive short- and long-term health benefits in patients who are obese with HTN.

Background: Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often experience reduced muscle strength and diminished health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and engaging in regular exercise may improve them. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of intradialytic exercise using non-immersive virtual reality (VR) on body composition of patients with CKD on hemodialysis (HD). Methods: This was a substudy in a clinical trial of intradialytic exercise intervention using a non-immersive VR game in which the patient interacted by moving the lower limbs. Body composition was determined by BCM Fresenius multifrequency stereoscopic bioimpedance. Body mass index (BMI), fat tissue index (FTI), lean tissue index (LTI), extracellular/intracellular water (EIW), and phase angle (PA) were recorded in 52 patients, 24 in the control group (CG) and 28 in the exercise group (EG). Results: Statistically significant differences were observed between both groups. The LTI increased in the EG while it decreased in the CG. The FTI and the EIW decreased in the EG compared to the increase observed in the CG. Conclusions: Intradialytic exercise using non-immersive VR was associated with an increase in LTI and a decrease in FTI of CKD patients on HD.

Intradialytic exercise (ID) programs are effective and safe for hemodialysis (HD) patients to avoid functional deterioration. However, exercise is not routinely undertaken in most HD units, and we do not know if home-based (HB) programs are as effective as ID programs. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 16 weeks of ID exercise versus a HB exercise program for HD patients. A total of 46 patients were randomly assigned to the ID group (n = 24) or HB group (n = 22). They completed a 16-week combined exercise program 3 times/week. We measured physical activity level, physical functioning, depression level, and health-related quality of life at baseline and after 16 weeks. A significant time effect was found in both groups for the physical activity level (p = 0.012). There was also a significant group–time interaction effect for the one-leg standing test (OLST) (p = 0.049) and a significant time effect for the Short Physical Performance Battery (p = 0.013), timed up-and-go test (p = 0.005), sit-to-stand-10 (p = 0.027), right and left hand handgrip (p = 0.044, p < 0.001), one-heel left leg raise (p = 0.019), and 6-minute walking (p = 0.006), depression (p = 0.017). HRQoL remained unchanged. There was no difference between the two interventions on the tested outcomes (besides OLST). Both interventions were associated with positive changes of the physical activity levels and physical function.

Background and purpose: Because of its high prevalence and association with negative health-related outcomes, frailty is considered one of the most important issues associated with human aging and its mitigation is among the essential public health goals for the 21st century. However, very few studies have focused on institutionalized older adults, despite the knowledge that frailty can be reversible when identified and treated from its earliest stages. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a supervised group-based multicomponent exercise program intervention with or without oral nutritional supplementation on functional performance in frail institutionalized older adults. Methods: This was a multicenter randomized controlled trial study with a 6-month intervention period. A total of 111 frail institutionalized older adults (75 years or older) who met at least 3 of the 5 Fried frailty criteria were randomly allocated to the control group (CG; n = 34, mean age = 87.3 ± 5.3 years), a supervised group-based multicomponent Otago Exercise Program group (OEP; n = 39, mean age = 86 ± 5.9 years), or a supervised group-based multicomponent exercise program intervention with oral nutritional supplementation (OEP+N; n = 38, mean age = 84.9 ± 6 years). Measurements included the Timed Up and Go test (TUG), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Short Physical Performance Battery, repeated chair stand test (STS-5), handgrip strength (HGS), 10-m walking test, and 6-minute walking test, both at baseline and after the 6-month intervention period. Results and discussion: The between-group analysis by 2-way analysis of covariance showed significant improvement in the TUG [{OEP vs CG: -8.2 seconds, 95% CI [-13.3 to -2.9]; P < .001}; {OEP vs OEP+N: -7.3 seconds, 95% CI [-12.4 to -2.2]; P = .002}], BBS [{OEP vs CG; 8.2 points, 95% CI [5.2 to 11.2]; P < .001}; [{OEP+N vs CG: 4.6 points, 95% CI [1.6 to 7.6]; P < .001}; {OEP vs OEP+N: 3.5 points, 95% CI [0.6 to 6.5]; P = .011}], and HGS [{OEP vs CG: 3.4 kg, 95% CI [1.5 to 5.3]; P < .001}; {OEP+N vs CG: 3.6 kg, 95% CI [1.7 to 5.5]; P < .001}]. Additionally, the within-group analysis showed a significant improvement in the TUG (-6.9 seconds, 95% CI [-9.8 to -4.0]; P < .001) and BBS (4.3 points, 95% CI [2.6 to 5.9]; P < .001) in the OEP group. A significant decrease in the BBS and HGS was shown in the CG. Conclusions: A 6-month supervised group-based multicomponent exercise intervention improved the levels of mobility, functional balance, and HGS in frail institutionalized older adults. Further research will be required to evaluate the nutritional supplementation effects on functional performance to better determine its clinical applicability for tackling frailty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pain-relieving effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) during office-based hysteroscopy without sedation. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were randomly assigned to the active TENS, placebo TENS, or control group. The active TENS intervention consisted of a varying high-frequency (80–100 Hz), 400-microseconds, individually adjusted, high-intensity TENS application with two self-adhesive electrodes placed parallel to the spinal cord at the T10–L1 and S2–S4 levels. In the placebo group, participants were connected to the TENS unit but delivering no electrical stimulation. The primary outcome was self-reported pain intensity (0–100 mm) measured on a visual analog scale at several stages (entry, contact, biopsy, and residual). The minimum clinically relevant difference for the visual analog scale has been previously reported as 10 mm. Sample size was calculated to provide 80% power to show a 10-mm difference (α=0.0125) in the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included duration of the procedure, vital parameters, vasovagal symptoms, and participant satisfaction index (0–10 rating scale). RESULTS: A total of 138 women (46 per group) participated in the study between January 2016 and April 2016. No differences were found between groups regarding age, weight, body mass index, parity status, menopausal status, or previous hysteroscopy status. Visual analog scale scores highlighted a decrease in pain in the active TENS group compared with the placebo group (entry: −11 mm, 95% confidence interval [CI] −17 to −5; contact: −21.9 mm, 95% CI −30 to −13.9; biopsy: −30.5 mm, 95% CI −47.1 to −13.8, P<.001). Moreover, the reduction in pain reached the minimum clinically relevant difference. Regarding satisfaction, results also revealed differences between active TENS and placebo groups (1.3, 95% CI 0.5–2.2, P=.001). CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation reduces pain and increases patient satisfaction during office hysteroscopy without sedation.