Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that poses a significant threat to human life worldwide, with a large patient population currently facing serious health risks. To mitigate its adverse health impacts, improve the lives of individuals with hype...
Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease that poses a significant threat to human life worldwide, with a large patient population currently facing serious health risks. To mitigate its adverse health impacts, improve the lives of individuals with hypertension, clarify the specific blood pressure–lowering effects of exercise interventions, reduce medication-related side effects, lower treatment costs, and explore differences in the efficacy of various exercise modalities in reducing blood pressure among hypertensive patients, this study analyzed relevant research througu a network meta-analysis. The aim is to better utilize exercise interventions to reduce hypertension in the future and to provide references for the control and treatment of hypertension.
A systematic search was conducted in CNKI, SinoMed, PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Web of Science, and RISS for randomized controlled trials published in Chinese, English, or Korean on aerobic exercise, resistance exercise, and combined exercise interventions in adults with hypertension from database inception to February 21, 2025. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two researchers. Risk of bias was assessed using the RoB 2 tool. A Bayesian model was employed for the network meta-analysis and statistical analyses, graphical visualizations, and output of effect size (MD) estimates were performed using R version 4.5.1. Inconsistency was examined via node-splitting, heterogeneity was evaluated using Bayesian variance component analysis, and sensitivity analyses were conducted through effect-model transformation. Subgroup analyses based on regression models and tests for publication bias were performed according to the characteristics of the included studies.
A total of 27 studies were included, involving 1922 participants, with publication years spanning 1991–2025. For the outcome of SBP, compared with CON, the intervention effects of the three exercise modalities were AE: MD(95%CrI)=[-7.12 (-9.51, -4.7)], RE: MD(95%CrI)=[-7.97 (-10.57, -5.35)], CE: MD(95%CrI)=[-4.99 (-9.2, -0.8)]. All showed definitive reductions in SBP. The SUCRA ranking was RE(86.50%)>AE(70.68%)>CE(42.47%)>CON(0.36%). RE was most likely the optimal exercise modality for lowering SBP. For the outcome of DBP, compared with CON, the intervention effects were AE: MD(95%CrI)=[-7.55 (-9.66, -5.49)], RE: MD(95%CrI)=[-4.72 (-7.18, -2.3)], CE: MD(95%CrI)=[-3.29 (-6.85, 0.25)]. AE and RE produced definitive reductions in DBP, whereas the effect of CE was uncertain. The SUCRA ranking was AE(98.30%)>RE(59.80%)>CE(40.78%)>CON(1.13%). AE was most likely the optimal exercise modality for lowering DBP.
Subgroup analyses showed that, for the outcome of SBP, when participants were aged ≤50 years, the SUCRA ranking was RE(71.02%)>AE(67.39%)>CE(46.98%)>CON(14.61%). When participants were aged >50 years, the SUCRA ranking was RE(88.19%)>AE(66.70%)>CE(44.55%)>CON(0.55%). For an intervention duration ≤12 weeks, the SUCRA ranking was RE(82.27%)>AE(76.79%)>CE(37.51%)>CON(3.44%). For a duration >12 weeks, the SUCRA ranking was AE(83.91%)>CE(67.36%)>RE(40.63%)>CON(8.10%). For the outcome of DBP, when participants were aged ≤50 years, the SUCRA ranking was AE AE(85.64%)>RE(57.29%)>CE(39.26%)>CON(17.81%). When participants were aged >50 years, the SUCRA ranking was AE(94.57%)>RE(58.34%)>CE(45.31%)>CON(17.80%). For an intervention duration ≤12 weeks, the SUCRA ranking was AE(96.77%)>RE(57.96%)>CE(37.84%)>CON(7.43%). For a duration >12 weeks, the SUCRA ranking was AE(92.27%)>RE(59.46%)>CE(45.57%)>CON(2.69%).
Different types of exercise interventions can reduce blood pressure levels in untreated adults with hypertension, though the degree of reduction varies. Both AE and RE interventions produced definitive reductions in SBP and DBP, while CE intervention demonstrated a definitive reduction only in SBP. The ranking of intervention efficacy for reducing SBP was RE > AE > CE > CON, whereas for reducing DBP, the ranking was AE > RE > CE > CON. Differences in age and intervention duration exerted a certain influence on the antihypertensive effects of exercise interventions. However, the magnitude of these changes appeared relatively limited. Taken together, these findings suggest that AE may be a more suitable and sustainable approach for long-term blood pressure management in patients with hypertension. Considering the limitations in the number and methodological quality of existing studies, further in-depth research is warranted to validate the present conclusions and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms more comprehensively.