Optimal Exercise Modalities and Dosages for Blood Pressure Reduction in Adults With Prehypertension and Established Hypertension: A Network Meta‐Analysis and Dose–Response Relationship Study

Figure 1. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses for Network Meta‐Analyses flowchart of the study selection for the network meta‐analysis.

Figure 2. Network plot of exercise interventions. A, Systolic blood pressure. B, Diastolic blood pressure. AE indicates aerobic exercise; COM: combined training; CON, control group; HIIT, high‐intensity interval training; IET, isometric exercise training; RT, resistance training; and TC, tai chi.

Figure 3. Results of the Bayesian network meta‐analysis for systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The data presented in the table are mean differences and their corresponding 95% CrIs. In comparisons of exercise interventions, a mean difference <0 indicates that the column‐defined intervention is more effective. Exercise modalities are ordered on the basis of their SUCRA values. Results for systolic blood pressure are displayed in the lower left half of the table, while results for diastolic blood pressure are shown in the upper right half. Bolded cells indicate statistically significant results. AE indicates aerobic exercise; COM, combined training; CON, control group; HIIT, high‐intensity interval training; IET, isometric exercise training; RT, resistance training; SUCRA, surface under the cumulative ranking; and TC, tai chi.

Figure 4. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve for exercise interventions. A, Systolic blood pressure. B, Diastolic blood pressure. Cumulative probability represents the likelihood that a given exercise modality ranks highest in efficacy. SUCRA values were used to evaluate the relative effectiveness of different exercise interventions. Higher SUCRA values and curves closer to the top‐left corner indicate better performance. AE indicates aerobic exercise; COM, combined training; CON, control group; HIIT, high‐intensity interval training; IET, isometric exercise training; RT, resistance training; SUCRA, surface under the cumulative ranking; and TC tai chi.

Figure 5. Dose–response relationship between total physical activity and systolic/diastolic blood pressure. A, Systolic blood pressure. B, Diastolic blood pressure. The blue‐shaded area indicates statistically significant results; the red dashed line represents the point of optimal effect (830 METs/min per wk); short black solid lines represent the original data set; yellow lines and numeric markers denote the range of significant dose–response relationships. METs indicate metabolic equivalents; PA, physical activity; and WHO, World Health Organization.

Figure 6. Dose–response relationship between different exercise modalities and systolic blood pressure.

Figure 7. Dose–response relationship between different exercise modalities and diastolic blood pressure. The blue‐shaded area indicates statistical significance; the red dashed lines and values indicate the point of optimal effect; short black solid lines represent the original data set; yellow lines and values represent the significant range of the dose–response relationship. AE indicates aerobic exercise; COM, combined training; CON, control group; HIIT, high‐intensity interval training; IET, isometric exercise training; METs, metabolic equivalents; RT, resistance training; and TC, tai chi.