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On the preliminary screening of elderly exercise volunteers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 November 2010

Roy J. Shephard ,
Alison Mahoney ,
J. F. Flowers  and
M. E. Berridge
Roy J. Shephard
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
Alison Mahoney
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
J. F. Flowers
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
M. E. Berridge
Affiliation:
University of Toronto
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Abstract

As part of the pre-screening for an exercise stress test and possible entry into a subsequent exercise training programme, 74 members of the University community aged 45–75 were given a full clinical examination. They subsequently responded to the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and the Physical Activity Readiness (PAR-Q) questionnaires. The exercise stress test was judged as contraindicated in 9 of the 74 subjects on the basis of the clinical examination. Possible uses of the CMI were rated against this criterion. Failure to complete the CMI and/or 2 or more positive responses to section C yielded a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 86.1%. Excluding subjects with more than 40 responses to section A-M substantially reduced sensitivity (55.5%), with only a small gain of specificity (90.7%). The PAR-Q had a sensitivity of 66.7% and a specificity of 92.5%. It was considered clinically advisable to halt the exercise test in 11 of the 65 subjects who had been initially cleared. Summing medical rejections and aborted tests, the basic use of the CMI showed a sensitivity of 50.0% and a specificity of 90.7%. Excluding subjects with a high response rate, sensitivity was 35.0% and specificity 92.6%. Corresponding figures for the PAR-Q procedure were 55.0% and 83.3%. It is suggested that (i) future exercise screening should combine the basic PAR-Q questions with a more specific and up-dated version of the CMI, and (ii) complaints should not be ignored because of a high overall response rate.

Résumé

Les préparatifs d'une épreuve au cycle ergométrique et d'un programme d'entraînement physique comprenaient un examen clinique, la questionnaire “Cornell Medical Index”, et le questionnaire “PAR-Q”. Les sujets étaient 74 membres de la communauté universitaire, âgés de 45 à 75 ans. L'épreuve au cycle ergométrique fut interdit suite à l'examen clinique, à 9 des 74 sujets. Par cette mesure, le questionnaire CMI montre un sensibilité de 66.7% et une specificité de 86.1% (ou en enlevant les sujets hyper-réponsive, 55.5% et 90.7%). Egalement, le PAR-Q montre une sensibilité de 66.7% et une specificité de 92.5%. Un arrêt de l'épreuve au cycle ergométrique fut requis pour 11 des 65 sujets admis à l'examen. En relation avec la somme des interdictions médicales et des épreuves avortés, le questionnaire CMI montre une sensibilité de 50.0% et une specificité de 90.7% (ou en enlevant les sujets hyper-réponsive, 35.0% et 92.6%). En même temps, le PAR-Q montre une sensibilité de 55.0% et une specificité de 83.3%. Nous suggerons que la selection preliminaire doit combinée le questionnaire PAR-Q et une version du questionnaire CMI plus moderne et adaptée à l'exercise, et ce n'est pas avantageux d'enlever les sujets hyper-réponsive.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 3 , Issue 2 , June 1984 , pp. 91 - 98
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 1984

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