Effects of walking in individuals with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension in India: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background/Aims Physical activity, such as walking, is a cheap approach with a low risk of injury that can be used in daily life. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of low impact aerobic exercise training on resting blood pressure in patients with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension specifically for people in India. Methods A total of 63 sedentary adults with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension participated in the study. All sedentary adults were randomly allocated to either the study group (aerobic training) (n=30) or the control group (n=33). Those in the study group walked for 30 minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks at an intensity of 60–75% of their target heart rate. The control group received no training but followed their usual prescribed medication and diet. The primary outcomes of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured at the end of every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. Secondary outcomes of pulse pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse rate were calculated. Results Significant changes in various outcome measures in the study group were noted (systolic blood pressure=7.30 mmHg (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.14 to 3.00; P=0.001); diastolic blood pressure=6.50 mmHg (95% CI 1.23 to 4.04; pulse pressure=0.000; mean arterial pressure=6.77 mmHg (95% CI 1.46 to 3.84; P=0.000) and pulse rate=6.90 bpm (95% CI 1.73 to 3.43; P=0.000) when compared with those in the control group, who had non-significant changes. Conclusions The findings of the present study concluded that aerobic exercise training improves blood pressure.

Effects of lifestyle interventions on cardiovascular risk factors in South Asians: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Of the 35 included studies (online supplemental table S1), 26 were parallel-arm RCTs,10 32 33 43–45 52–72 and 8 were cluster RCTs 30 34–40. Thirty-one studies were conducted in South Asian countries (20 in India, 5 in Pakistan, 3 in Nepal, 2 in Sri Lanka and 1 in Bangladesh)30 32–40 43–45 53–60 62–64 66–72 and 4 studies were conducted outside of Asia (1 in the USA and 3 in Canada) 10 32 52 61.…”

“…Thirty-one studies were conducted in South Asian countries (20 in India, 5 in Pakistan, 3 in Nepal, 2 in Sri Lanka and 1 in Bangladesh)30 32–40 43–45 53–60 62–64 66–72 and 4 studies were conducted outside of Asia (1 in the USA and 3 in Canada) 10 32 52 61. Most participants in the studies had at least one major risk factor for CVD such as diabetes,33 54 60 63 67–69 71 dyslipidaemia,43 55 64 hypertension,35 40 44 45 65 66 70 72 obesity53 57 or metabolic syndrome 36 56. Eighteen studies assessed diet alone34 39 43–45 53–59 62 64 67–69 71; 5 studies assessed physical activity alone32 33 60 65 72; and 12 studies assessed a combination of diet and physical activity modifications 10 30 35–38 40 52 61 63 66 70.…”

“…Most participants in the studies had at least one major risk factor for CVD such as diabetes,33 54 60 63 67–69 71 dyslipidaemia,43 55 64 hypertension,35 40 44 45 65 66 70 72 obesity53 57 or metabolic syndrome 36 56. Eighteen studies assessed diet alone34 39 43–45 53–59 62 64 67–69 71; 5 studies assessed physical activity alone32 33 60 65 72; and 12 studies assessed a combination of diet and physical activity modifications 10 30 35–38 40 52 61 63 66 70. The comparator in all of the trials was usual lifestyle/dietary advice, with the exception of three trials in which the comparator was no intervention 37 58 71.…”

“…No studies reported on the incidence of fatal or non-fatal MI and/or stroke. Twenty studies reported on blood lipids (HDLc, LDLc and triglycerides)30 36 39 43–45 53–60 62 64 67–69 71; 26 studies reported on blood pressure (SBP and DBP)10 30 33–40 43–45 52–55 57 61 62 65–67 69 71 72; 3 studies reported on hypertension10 52 63; 2 studies reported on visceral adipose tissue volume32 56; and 2 studies reported on the incidence of type 2 diabetes 10 52. No studies directly reported on non-HDLc.…”