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July 27, 2026Journal of Physical Activity and Health

An 8-week physical activity intervention fails to reduce SBP at 24 months in older adults.

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Why the study?

Physical activity intervention effects on blood pressure have mostly been studied in high socioeconomic status older adults, with reliable evidence lacking in low socioeconomic status populations.

Does a physical activity intervention reduce blood pressure in socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults?

Population

506 low socioeconomic status older adults across eight villages in Sichuan, China

Comparison

Physical activity intervention vs no intervention

Design

Cluster randomized trial

Follow-up

24 months

Key result

An 8-week physical activity intervention did not significantly decrease systolic blood pressure (between-group difference 1.77 mm Hg, P = .37) at 24 months in low socioeconomic status older adults.

Authors

QLQ F LiuXLXianlan LiQYQin Ye

Discussion

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Overview

No sustained BP benefit from physical activity at 24 months in disadvantaged older adults; leaves open whether longer or tailored programs would succeed.

Key Points

  • This study aims to assess the impact of physical activity interventions on blood pressure among older adults from low socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Cluster randomized trial conducted in eight villages in Sichuan, China.
  • Older adults were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving physical activity or a control group.
  • Primary outcomes included systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure at 24 months. “],
  • No significant differences found in systolic blood pressure (1.77 mm Hg; P = .37), DBP (0.50 mm Hg; P = .66), and MAP (-0.93 mm Hg; P = .48) at 24 months.
  • At 12-month follow-up, DBP significantly decreased by -2.44 mm Hg (P = .03).
  • Suggested the need for longer-duration interventions for better outcomes in this demographic.

Study Design

Type

RCT (n=506)

Blinding

Single-blind

Randomization

1:1 ratio

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does a physical activity intervention reduce blood pressure in socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults?

P
Population
506 socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults (mean age 70.9 years, 55.5% female) capable of independent walking, followed for 24 months.
I
Intervention
Physical activity (PA) intervention
C
Comparator
No physical activity intervention (control group)
O
Outcome
Changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 24-month follow-up from baselinesurrogate

Main Result

Mean Difference: 1.77

Absolute Event Rate: 136.44% vs 133.83%

p-value: p=.37

A physical activity intervention did not significantly decrease blood pressure at 24 months in socioeconomically disadvantaged older adults.

Limitations

  • Secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial
  • Intervention may not have been sufficiently tailored for a low socioeconomic status population
  • Study period may have been too short to observe long-term blood pressure changes

Cite This Study

Liu et al. (2026) conducted an RCT in Low socioeconomic status older adults (n=506). Physical activity intervention vs. No intervention was evaluated on Change in systolic blood pressure at 24 months (MD 1.77 mm Hg, p=.37). An 8-week physical activity intervention did not significantly decrease systolic blood pressure (between-group difference 1.77 mm Hg, P = .37) at 24 months in low socioeconomic status older adults.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a6794fcbb2605d1235fba1fhttps://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2025-0445
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Associations of Lifestyle Intervention Effect with Blood Pressure and Physical Activity among Community-Dwelling Older Americans with Hypertension in Southern California2020 · 11 citations
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  3. 3A Coordinated Community- and Family-Based Intervention to Control Blood Pressure in Rural China2026 · 1 citations
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