Effects of physical exercises on cardiac function and plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels in hypertensive patients with diastolic cardiac disfunction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of physical exercises on cardiac function and plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in hypertensive patients combined with diastolic cardiac dysfunction. Methods A total of 66 essential hypertension patients who had abnormal left ventricular relaxation and normal systolic function were assigned to the intervention group (n=33; doing physical exercises once a day, 5 days a week) or control group (n=33). All the patients received standard treatment. At 6 months, body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, NT-proBNP, and echocardiography were measured. Results At 6 months, body weight [(68±7) kg vs (72±8) kg], systolic blood pressure [(135.4±5.1) mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa) vs (141.9±5.2) mm Hg ], diastolic blood pressure [(81.1±4.0) mm Hg vs (84.7±4.6) mm Hg], New York Heart Association class (1.4±0.3 vs 1.8±0.4), NT-proBNP level [(526±126) ng/L vs (741±189) ng/L]were significantly decreased in the intervention group when compared with the control group (all P<0.05) although left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (62.9±6.7 vs 59.0±5.6) and E/A ratio (1.1±0.3 vs 0.9±0.3) were significantly increased (both P<0.05). Conclusion Physical exercises could play a role in reduced blood pressure and body weight and improved cardiac function in hypertensive patients with diastolic cardiac dysfunction. Key words: Hypertension; Exercise; Brain natriuretic peptide