Maximising physical function: exercise + ACE inhibition

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Maximising physical function in later life: a 2 centre randomised trial of progressive resistance exercise training in combination with ACE inhibition

• IRAS ID

  21036

• Contact name

  Marion E T McMurdo, Ageing and Health, University of Dundee

• Eudract number

  2009-012621-12

• ISRCTN Number

  pending

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A

• Research summary

  Physical function declines with age leading to increasing disability and dependence. Exercise is currently the mainstay of therapies to help improve physical function in older people. However there is a limit to how much older people can exercise. In a recent study, we showed that a commonly used cardiac medicine called 'perindopril' can improve physical function in older people with mobility problems. If perindopril can augment the benefit achieved by exercise, it would help reduce disability and dependence and have a major impact on society. In this Chief Scientist Office funded study, we will examine the effects of adding perindopril to exercise therapy in older people with mobility problems. In a double blind placebo controlled trial, 186 participants > 65 years will be recruited. Potential participants from GP practices and the Medicine for the Elderly services in Tayside and Fife will be invited to the study. Willing participants will be further screened for eligibility to the study. All will attend group exercise classes twice a week and will be randomised to receive either Perindopril or placebo (dummy) capsules for 20 weeks. Participants will have a 50:50 chance of receiving either perindopril or placebo. Both participant and researcher will be blind to treatment allocation. Participants will attend either Day Hospital in Royal Victoria Hospitals, Dundee or Fife where the outcomes will be measured at baseline, 10 and 20 weeks. The main outcome will be the change in the distance walked in 6 minutes. Other outcomes will involve getting out of a chair 5 times, standing balance tests, squeezing a gadget to measure strength, pushing leg against a gadget to measure strength and answering a few questionnaires about how they feel and what they are able to do. Participants will be monitored for side effects of the medicine. Each participant will be followed up for 20 weeks.

• REC name

  East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2

• REC reference

  09/S0501/48

• Date of REC Opinion

  6 Aug 2009

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion