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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Mar;96(11):e6150.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000006150.

Reducing effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure of essential hypertensive patients: A meta-analysis

Hongwei Wen  1 , Lijuan Wang
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Reducing effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure of essential hypertensive patients: A meta-analysis

Hongwei Wen et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar.

Abstract

Background: The comprehensive meta-analysis aimed to explore the reductive effect of aerobic exercise on blood pressure of hypertensive patients.

Methods: The related researches were selected from PubMed and Embase databases up to June 2016. Based on specific inclusive criteria, the eligible studies were selected, and the heterogeneities in their results were estimated by χ-based Q-test and I statistics. Quantitative meta-analysis was assessed by R 3.12 software, and results were presented by standardized mean difference (SMD) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Outcome indicators were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The publication biases were estimated by Egger test. Besides, the "leave one out" method was used for sensitivity evaluations.

Results: As a result, a total of 13 papers with 802 samples were included. Based on the meta-analysis results, there were no significant differences in SBP and DBP between aerobic and control groups before exercise (SMD = 0.15, 95%CI: -0.16-0.46; SMD = 0.16, 95% CI: -0.23-0.55). However, significant reductions were obviously in aerobic group after aerobics, compared with control (SMD = -0.79, 95% CI: -1.29 to -0.28; SMD = -0.63, 95% CI: -1.14 to -0.12). A significant publication bias was detected in SBP (t = -2.2314, P = 0.04549) but not in DBP (t = -1.4962, P = 0.1604). Additionally, the DBP result would be altered after the exclusion of 2 individual papers.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise may be a potential nonpharmacological treatment for blood pressure improvement in essential hypertensive patients.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding and conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of literature search and study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Comparison of blood pressure between aerobic group and control group before aerobic exercise. (A) SBP, (B) DBP. CI = confidence interval, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, SBP = systolic blood pressure, SD = standard deviation, SMD = standardized mean difference.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of blood pressure between aerobic group and control group after aerobic exercise. (A) SBP, (B) DBP. CI = confidence interval, DBP = diastolic blood pressure, SBP = systolic blood pressure, SD = standard deviation, SMD = standardized mean difference.
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