Physical fitness and blood pressure

AIM: Epidemiological studies suggest an inverse relationship between physical activity or fitness and blood pressure. We therefore performed a meta-analysis of 36 controlled intervention studies. RESULTS: The weighted net blood pressure response to dynamic aerobic training averaged -5.3 mmHg for systolic and -4.8 mmHg for diastolic pressure. The interstudy variation in the change in blood pressure was mainly dependent on the initial blood pressure status and the efficacy of the training programme. The weighted net change in blood pressure with endurance training averaged -3/-3 mmHg in normotensives, -6/-7 mmHg in borderline hypertensives and -10/-8 mmHg in hypertensives. Reductions in blood pressure have also been observed for measurements during exercise and during daytime ambulatory monitoring; sleep blood pressure was not, however, significantly altered.