The form of exercise to decrease resting blood pressure in older adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background/objectivesThe current systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the relationship between the form of exercise and changes in resting blood pressure (RBP) in older adults and the overall level of evidence. MethodsThe inclusion criteria were studies involving intervention with only regular exercise limited to subjects ≥65 years old. The combined changes in RBP in each study were calculated and the relationship between the form of exercise and changes in the RBP were evaluated. The overall evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach. ResultsNineteen studies (1081 subjects) were analyzed. The combined changes in the RBP decreased as a result of aerobic exercise or resistance exercise. The intensity of resistance exercise (METs) was related to the change in the RBP of systolic (meta-regression coefficient, –2.5 [95% confidence interval, –4.7 to –0.4]; R2=35.4%). When excluding studies with high overall risk of bias, the overall duration of aerobic exercise (weeks) was related to the change in the RBP of systolic (meta-regression coefficient, –0.6 [95% confidence interval, –1.0 to –0.2]; R2=93.2%). In addition, there was a low level of evidence overall for a decrease in RBP as a result of aerobic exercise, but there was a moderate level of evidence for a decrease in RBP as a results of resistance exercise. ConclusionA decrease in the RBP of systolic may be associated with active exercise in older adults. However, there may be insufficient evidence for the decrease in RBP as a result of aerobic exercise.