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Biomedical subjects

Barry A Franklin

Publications and source records attributed to Barry A Franklin.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Substantial weight gain during adulthood: the road to bariatric surgery.

We sought to examine the relationship of body mass index (BMI) at age 18 years with the degree and rate of rise in body weight during adulthood among the morbidly obese. We evaluated 196 patients with a standard medical history form and a structured interview with questions regarding weight at age 18 years. The study included 40 (20.4%) men and 156 (79.6%) women. The mean BMI was 50.2+/-8.0 kg/m2, range 37.0-80.0 kg/m2. Based on self-reported weight, 133 (67.9%) were overweight/obese (BMI >25 kg/m2) and 68 (34.7%) were obese (BMI > or =30 kg/m2) at age 18 years. The distribution of cumulative weight gain was normal with a mean of 60.8+/-23.7 kg. There was a positive relationship (r=0.36, p<0.0001) between BMI at age 18 years and BMI in adulthood at a mean of 44+/-10.6 years. Independent predictors for cumulative adult weight gain were BMI at age 18 years (p<0.0001); women (p<0.0001); African Americans (p=0.05). These data suggest that modestly overweight young adults can have excessive weight gains during adult life, resulting in morbid obesity and high rates of obesity-related comorbidities.

Adolescent↗

Initial and final exercise heart rate transients: influence of gender, aerobic fitness, and clinical status.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To compare the independent and additive data provided by initial and final heart rate (HR) exercise transients, and to analyze both according to gender, aerobic fitness, clinical status, and medication usage. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Exercise medicine clinic. PATIENTS: A total of 544 subjects (363 men) with a mean (+/- SD) age of 50 +/- 14 years (age range, 10 to 91 years), including asymptomatic and coronary artery disease patients. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: HR transients were obtained from the following two exercise protocols: 4-s exercise test (4sET) followed by a maximal cardiopulmonary cycling exercise test (CPET). The initial HR transient was represented by the cardiac vagal index (CVI), which was obtained by the 4sET, and the final transient (ie, HR recovery [HRR]) was determined by the following equation: CPET maximal HR - the 1-min postexercise HR. Transients were modestly related (r = 0.22; p < 0.001) when adjusted for age, aerobic fitness, clinical status, and negative chronotropic action drug usage. The transients were unrelated to gender (vs CVI, p = 0.10; vs HRR, p = 0.15). Subjects with a measured maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) exceeding 100% of the predicted maximal aerobic power showed higher CVIs than those in less aerobically fit subjects (VO2max < 50% subgroup, p = 0.009; VO2max < 75% subgroup, p = 0.034). Both transient results differed for asymptomatic and cardiac subjects (CVI, 1.32 +/- 0.02 vs 1.42 +/- 0.02, respectively [p = 0.001]; HRR, 33 +/- 1 beats/min (bpm) vs 37 +/- 1 bpm, respectively [p = 0.009]). CONCLUSIONS: The initial and final HR transients were modestly related, suggesting a potentially complementary clinical role for both measurements in the assessment of autonomic function in patients with coronary artery disease. Although both HR transients tended to behave similarly under the influence of several variables, the initial HR transient, measured during 4sET, was more likely to discriminate distinct subgroups compared with the final HR transient.

Adolescent↗

Comparative impact of morbid obesity vs heart failure on cardiorespiratory fitness.

BACKGROUND: We are in the midst of an obesity pandemic. Morbid obesity is associated with dyspnea on exertion and higher overall mortality rates. The relations between measures of cardiorespiratory fitness in morbidly obese persons compared to those with heart failure are unknown. METHODS: We compared cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with morbid obesity (n = 43) and established systolic dysfunction heart failure (n = 235), and in age-matched medical control subjects (n = 222) who had been referred for diagnostic exercise testing with simultaneous metabolic measurements. Only patients who completed an adequate test for maximum exertion manifested by a respiratory exchange ratio of > or = 1.10 were included in the study. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SD) body mass index (BMI) values for the three groups were 47.8 +/- 5.1, 30.1 +/- 5.7, and 33.8 +/- 9.0, respectively (p < 0.0001 for comparisons between morbidly obese patients and each comparator). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction for the heart failure group was 21.5 +/- 8.4%. Despite achieving higher peak heart rate and BP values, the morbidly obese patients had a mean maximum oxygen uptake (V(O2)max) that was similar to that of those with heart failure (17.8 +/- 3.6 vs 16.5 +/- 5.6 mL/kg/min, respectively; p = 0.14) and was considerably lower than that of the control group (17.8 +/- 3.6 vs 21.3 +/- 8.2 mL/kg/min, respectively; p = 0.007). In addition, among subjects in the control group, there was a graded inverse relation between BMI and V(O2)max. CONCLUSIONS: Morbidly obese individuals have severely reduced cardiorespiratory fitness that is similar to those with established systolic dysfunction heart failure. In addition, in those persons who are referred for stress testing for medical reasons, there is an inverse graded relationship between BMI and cardiorespiratory fitness. These data suggest that the impairment in V(O2)max in morbidly obese persons is related to BMI and possibly to other factors that impair peak cardiac performance. These findings are consistent with overall higher expected mortality in morbidly obese persons.

Adult↗

Effectiveness of therapeutic lifestyle changes in patients with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and/or hyperglycemia.

In this prospective study of 2,390 ethnically diverse men and women, we evaluated the clinical effectiveness of 12 weeks of participation in a community-based lifestyle management program in helping patients who had hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and/or impaired fasting glucose or diabetes mellitus achieve goal risk factor levels without using pharmacotherapeutic agents. Although further research is warranted, the findings clearly show that many patients who have conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease can achieve goal levels without medications within 12 weeks of initiating therapeutic lifestyle changes and refute the notion that intensive lifestyle intervention is not worth the effort.

Coronary Disease↗

Prescribing exercise for the elderly: current research and recommendations.

The potential for regular exercise to offset the deleterious effects of aging is well established. In fact, the pronounced health benefits attributed to regular exercise, including improvements in resting blood pressure, cholesterol profile, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes mellitus, and cognitive functioning, can be achieved even in those individuals who start physical conditioning programs later in life. Yet, despite these impressive data, approximately 70% of elderly Americans are physically inactive. This hypokinetic state negatively affects not only the health status of the elderly but significantly influences healthcare costs as more Americans are attaining octogenarian status. As such, it is vitally important for all healthcare workers to actively encourage elderly individuals to maintain or, in the case of nonexercisers, start an exercise program. Such recommendations may help to decrease comorbid conditions associated with the aging process, increase functional independence, and attenuate skyrocketing healthcare costs associated with treating the growing elderly population.

Aged↗

Training principles for elite senior athletes.

Despite the passage of time, masters athletes are still capable of incredible performances. Nevertheless, overuse injuries are the most common challenge in this escalating cohort. The incidence of exertion-related cardiovascular events is also greater among older athletes, especially men, highlighting the importance of a thorough preparticipation medical evaluation before entry into senior athletic training programs and competition. Accordingly, masters athletes with a moderate to high risk for coronary artery disease, who desire to enter vigorous competitive events, should undergo peak or symptom-limited exercise testing. Training programs for senior athletes should be individually tailored and focus on the predominant energy pathways and performance requirements for a given sport. Although competition and "personal bests" are important, protection against sickness and disability are increasingly listed as the primary participative motives of older athletes.

Adult↗

American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Exercise and hypertension.

Hypertension (HTN), one of the most common medical disorders, is associated with an increased incidence of all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. Lifestyle modifications are advocated for the prevention, treatment, and control of HTN, with exercise being an integral component. Exercise programs that primarily involve endurance activities prevent the development of HTN and lower blood pressure (BP) in adults with normal BP and those with HTN. The BP lowering effects of exercise are most pronounced in people with HTN who engage in endurance exercise with BP decreasing approximately 5-7 mm HG after an isolated exercise session (acute) or following exercise training (chronic). Moreover, BP is reduced for up to 22 h after an endurance exercise bout (e.g.postexercise hypotension), with greatest decreases among those with highest baseline BP. The proposed mechanisms for the BP lowering effects of exercise include neurohumoral, vascular, and structural adaptations. Decreases in catecholamines and total peripheral resistance, improved insulin sensitivity, and alterations in vasodilators and vasoconstrictors are some of the postulated explanations for the antihypertensive effects of exercise. Emerging data suggest genetic links to the BP reductions associated with acute and chronic exercise. Nonetheless, definitive conclusions regarding the mechanisms for the BP reductions following endurance exercise cannot be made at this time. Individuals with controlled HTN and no CVD or renal complications may participated in an exercise program or competitive athletics, but should be evaluated, treated and monitored closely. Preliminary peak or symptom-limited exercise testing may be warranted, especially for men over 45 and women over 55 yr planning a vigorous exercise program (i.e. > or = 60% VO2R, oxygen uptake reserve). In the interim, while formal evaluation and management are taking place, it is reasonable for the majority of patients to begin moderate intensity exercise (40-<60% VO2R) such as walking. When pharmacological therapy is indicated in physically active people it should be, ideally: a) lower BP at rest and during exertion; b) decrease total peripheral resistance; and, c) not adversely affect exercise capacity. For these reasons, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (or angiotensin II receptor blockers in case of ACE inhibitor intolerance) and calcium channel blockers are currently the drugs of choice for recreational exercisers and athletes who have HTN. Exercise remains a cornerstone therapy for the primary prevention, treatment, and control of HTN. The optimal training frequency, intensity, time, and type (FITT) need to be better defined to optimize the BP lowering capacities of exercise, particularly in children, women, older adults, and certain ethnic groups. based upon the current evidence, the following exercise prescription is recommended for those with high BP: Frequency: on most, preferably all, days of the week. Intensity: moderate-intensity (40-<60% VO2R). Time: > or = 30 min of continuous or accumulated physical activity per day. Type: primarily endurance physical activity supplemented by resistance exercise.

Adolescent↗

Sudden cardiac death after manual or automated snow removal.

To examine the proximate circumstances of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the setting of major snowstorms, we reviewed records from the medical examiners' offices of 3 counties in the weeks before, during, and after 2 heavy snowfalls that occurred in the greater metropolitan Detroit area. Of those who experienced SCD due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (n = 271), 36 (33 men, 3 women) were engaged in snow removal, representing the largest number of exertion-related deaths after heavy snowfalls reported to date.

Age Distribution↗

Counseling for physical activity in overweight and obese patients.

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. More than 60 percent of U.S. adults are now overweight or obese (defined as at least 30 lb [13.6 kg] overweight), predisposing more than 97 million Americans to a host of chronic diseases and conditions. Physical activity has a positive effect on weight loss, total body fat, and body fat distribution, as well as maintenance of favorable body weight and change in body composition. Many of the protective aspects of exercise and activity appear to occur in overweight persons who gain fitness but remain overweight. Despite the well-known health and quality-of-life benefits of regular physical activity, few Americans are routinely active. Results of research studies have shown that physician intervention to discuss physical activity (including the wide array of health benefits and the potential barriers to being active) need not take more than three to five minutes during an office visit but can play a critical role in patient implementation. This article describes elements of effective counseling for physical activity and presents guidelines for developing physical activity programs for overweight and obese patients.

Body Mass Index↗