Aerobic exercise reduces BP variability, central SBP in hypertensive people

Aerobic exercise leads to decreased blood pressure variability (BPV) and central systolic blood pressure (SBP) in hypertensive individuals, a study has found. On the other hand, isometric handgrip exercise does not lower BPV but tends to do so with central SBP.

This study reported the differential effects of aerobic vs isometric handgrip exercise on BPV and central SBP in a prospective randomized trial. The investigators randomized 75 hypertensive patients to one of the following 12-week programmes: aerobic exercise training (30 min three to five times/week), isometric handgrip training five times/week, or sham-handgrip training five times/week.

BPV was evaluated by the coefficient of variation in 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), while central SBP was measured noninvasively using the SphygmoCor device.

Participants in the aerobic exercise programme had a significantly reduced systolic daytime variability (12.1±2.5 vs 10.3±2.8; p=0.04), but their diastolic daytime BPV was not significantly affected (p=0.14). In addition, night-time variability was not significantly altered (p>0.05), but central SBP decreased from 145±15 to 134±19 mm Hg (p=0.01).

BPV did not significantly change in the isometric handgrip and sham-handgrip exercise groups (p>0.05 for each). Moreover, isometric exercise appeared to result in reduced central SBP (142±19 to 136±17 mm Hg; p=0.06).

In analysis of covariance, significant intergroup differences were noted for the change in daytime SBP (p=0.048) and diastolic BPV (p=0.047).

“BPV and central SBP are independent markers of cardiovascular risk,” the investigators said.