The Effect of Physical Activity on Lowering Blood Pressure among Adults with Prehypertension: A Meta-Analysis of RCT Studies
*Corresponding Author:Received Date: Oct 05, 2024 / Published Date: Nov 01, 2024
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Abstract
Background: Various combinations of physical activity (PA) interventions have been studied, and parallel outcomes found a lowering SBP/DBP among prehypertensive adults worldwide. Therefore, this meta-analysis evaluated the pooled effects of multiple PA interventions on reducing SBP/DBP among prehypertensive adults. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis search were conducted, and sixteen RCT studies were identified. Among the 1,419 adult participants, 881 men and 538 women participated in the RCT studies. Random effects models were used to evaluate heterogeneity in the study. Estimate publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and a modified Egger linear regression test. The pooled effects were evaluated by relative risk, 95% CI, and p-value < 0.05. Results: The results of the random-effects meta-regression coefficient indicated that all the RCT studies had a risk-free bias. Homogeneity was found (I2SBP = 0.0% and I2DBP = 0.0%) and suggested that 0.0% of the physical activity intervention effect variability was due to the actual study similarity, and 100% is due to chance. The combined results, pooled relative risk (RR) for lowering SBP/DBP events in the adults with prehypertension, randomly assigned to physical activity was 〖RR〗_SBP=0.99; 95% CI (0.99-1.00),p=0.02; and 〖RR〗_DBP=0.99; 95% CI (0.98- 1.00),p=0.04; statistically significant, respectively. The pooled point estimate and the 95% CI be positioned entirely to the left of the line of no effect, demonstrating 100 x (1-0.99) % = 1% of SBP/DBP reduction is significantly in favor of PA intervention, p = 0.02 and p =0.04 respectively. Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrated a significant PA intervention pooled effect on SBP and DBP reduction among adults with prehypertension worldwide. This meta-analysis finding provided statistically significant evidence for the association between physical activity and SBP/DBP reduction; and subsequently reduced risk of complications among prehypertensive adults worldwide. Hence, clinicians and public health professionals must integrate and reinforce the beneficial effects of physical activity through counseling, education, and support.
