Abstract

Background/objective: Hypertension and type 2 diabetes are major causes of morbidity in older adults. Although pharmacological treatments remain the cornerstone of management, structured physical activity has been shown to provide additional benefits, yet evidence from institutionalized populations in Latin America is limited. This study evaluated the impact of a 12-month supervised exercise program on blood pressure (BP), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and body composition in elderly people attending welfare homes in Mexico. Methods: A community-based intervention trial was conducted (February 2018–January 2019) with 260 adults (aged > 60 years) with hypertension and/or diabetes. Participants were allocated based on shelter site to either a control group (n = 129; pharmacological treatment only) or an intervention group (n = 131; pharmacological treatment plus five one-hour supervised recreational physical activity sessions per week). Monthly anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical measurements were analyzed using parametric/non-parametric tests and estimation of effect size (Cohen’s d). Results: Median age was 70 years (86% female). After 12 months, systolic BP decreased from 148.4 to 129.7 mmHg in the intervention group vs. 147.7 to 131.3 mmHg in controls. Diastolic BP showed greater reduction in the intervention group (−25%; 93.1 to 68.9 mmHg) than in controls (−13.5%; 88.1 to 76.2 mmHg). HbA1c reductions were also superior in the intervention group (–2.28% vs. –1.86%). Both groups lost fat mass, but lean mass preservation was limited. Conclusions: Structured community-based physical activity significantly improves BP, glycemic control, and body composition, supporting its integration into routine institutional care with limited resources.

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