TABLE 1.
Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients at baseline as well as description of the IHHE, sham IHHE, and aerobic cycling training sessions.
| Characteristics | IG (n = 14) | CG (n = 11) |
|---|---|---|
| Age [years] | 84.2 ± 5.1 | 85.6 ± 6.0 |
| Female [n (%)] | 13 (93%) | 11 (100%) |
| Height [cm] | 159.9 ± 8.1 | 156.4 ± 10.9 |
| Weight [kg] | 71.2 ± 11.9 | 65.6 ± 13.0 |
| Body mass index [cm/kg2] | 27.8 ± 4.1 | 26.7 ± 3.9 |
| Mini-mental state examination [score] | 18.6 (7.2) | 17.7 (6.5) |
| >24 [n (%)] | 4 (29%) | 2 (18%) |
| 24-21 [n (%)] | 2 (14%) | 2 (18%) |
| 20-11 [n (%)] | 6 (43%) | 6 (55%) |
| 10-7 [n (%)] | 2 (14%) | 1 (9%) |
| Clinical diagnosis [n (%)] | ||
| Alzheimer’s dementia | 3 (21%) | 5 (45%) |
| Vascular dementia | 0 (0%) | 1 (9%) |
| Unspecified dementia | 5 (36%) | 4 (36%) |
| Hypertension | 11 (79%) | 10 (91%) |
| Diabetes mellitus type II | 4 (29%) | 4 (36%) |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 2 (14%) | 2 (18%) |
| Hypercholesterinaemia | 1 (7%) | 2 (18%) |
| Hyperthyreosis | 0 (0%) | 3 (27%) |
| Hypothyreosis | 2 (14%) | 2 (18%) |
| Osteoporosis | 2 (14%) | 5 (45%) |
| Regular medications [n (%)] | ||
| ACE inhibitors | 4 (29%) | 3 (27%) |
| AT1 receptor antagonist | 5 (36%) | 4 (36%) |
| β-blocker | 5 (36%) | 7 (64%) |
| Calcium channel blocker | 4 (29%) | 1 (9%) |
| Diuretics | 5 (36%) | 1 (9%) |
| Acetylsalicylic acid | 5 (36%) | 4 (36%) |
| Heparinoid | 1 (7%) | 1 (9%) |
| Statins | 2 (14%) | 0 (0%) |
| L-thyroxin | 2 (14%) | 3 (27%) |
| Metformin | 2 (14%) | 1 (9%) |
| Insulin | 1 (7%) | 1 (9%) |
| Melperon | 3 (21%) | 3 (27%) |
| Antidepressant agents | 2 (14%) | 4 (36%) |
| Galantamin | 2 (14%) | 1 (9%) |
| Memantin | 1 (7%) | 3 (27%) |
| Donepezil | 0 (0%) | 2 (18%) |
| Average minimum and maximum SpO2 recorded during the IHHE or sham-IHHE sessions | ||
| Minimum SpO2 [%] | 84.10 ± 2.61 | 93.55 ± 1.92 |
| Maximum SpO2 [%] | 96.83 ± 1.84 | 95.89 ± 1.80 |
| Variables recorded before, during, and after the aerobic cycling training sessions | ||
| Pulse rate before exercise [beats·min−1] | 73.79 ± 2.84 | 76.25 ± 2.88 |
| Work [kJ] | 87.03 ± 10.90 | 93.80 ± 19.66 |
| Pulse rate after exercise [beats·min−1] (% of estimated maximum heart rate) | 75.31 ± 2.53 (51% ± 6%) | 77.15 ± 3.34 (52% ± 7%) |
CG, sham control group; IG, intervention group.