Cardiovascular Impact of Exercise and Drug Therapy in Older Hypertensives with Coronary Heart Disease: PREHACOR Study

Our aim in this study was to examine the relationship between regular exercise and major cardiovascular events in hypertensive elderly with established coronary heart disease (CHD) in the primary care setting. The PREHACOR study recruited 3193 hypertensive patients, aged 74 +/- 6 years, 67% male, with CHD. Regular exercise assessed by questionnaire was defined as recreational activity >20 min/day, >3 times/week. Endpoints at 6 months were new cardiovascular events (NCEs: myocardial infarction and hospitalization for stroke, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, or coronary revascularization). New cardiovascular events occurred in 376 patients (11.8%), with 17 deaths (0.5%). New cardiovascular events patients were older, with higher body mass index, and were more likely to have diabetes, arrhythmia, history of congestive heart failure, and noncardiac organ damage than non-NCE patients. Blood pressure was significantly and similarly reduced in both groups. Multivariate logistic regression associated NCEs positively and independently with a history of congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR] 2.50; confidence interval [CI] = 1.9-3.23), noncardiac target organ damage (OR 1.51; CI = 1.20-1.90), and beta-blocker use (OR 1.28; CI = 1.02-1.59), and inversely and independently with combination low-dose angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor + diuretic therapy (OR 0.66; CI = 0.45-0.95) and regular exercise (OR 0.70; CI = 0.54-0.90). Regular exercise is significantly associated with fewer major cardiovascular events in hypertensive elderly subjects with established CHD.