Effectiveness of traditional Chinese exercises on stroke risk factors in individuals with pre-hypertension or mild-to-moderate essential hypertension: A systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) on stroke risk factors in patients with pre-hypertension or mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. We performed searches of seven electronic databases for studies published from their inception until July 2017. We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effects of TCEs with or without health education on stroke risk factors in patients with pre-hypertension or mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. Outcomes were independently extracted from each study by two authors and were pooled to determine risk ratios and standardized mean differences.materials-methods We included 15 RCTs, involving 1272 hypertensive participants. Compared with no intervention, TCEs were associated with a clinically meaningful amelioration of stroke risk factors, including reductions in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose, blood lipids, and waist-to-hip ratio, and improved quality of life. Compared with health education, TCEs reduced SBP but had no effect on DBP. Compared with health education alone, TCEs plus health education resulted in an amelioration of stroke risk factors. No serious adverse events were reported.results TCEs may be effective alongside health education in ameliorating stroke risk factors in individuals with pre-hypertension or mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. However, the current evidence is insufficient due to poor methodology and lack of adequate safety data. Further rigorously-designed RCTs are warranted.conclusion