Key result
A 3-month brisk walking intervention significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in sedentary office workers, with 4000 to <8000 steps/day showing a greater reduction (MD -3.24 mm Hg) compared to >12000 steps/day.
Why the study?
The authors sought to explore the effects of brisk walking on blood pressure in Chinese Han occupational populations to identify the appropriate exercise volume for blood pressure management.
Does brisk walking reduce blood pressure in Chinese occupational populations with sedentary lifestyles?
Does brisk walking reduce blood pressure in Chinese occupational populations with sedentary lifestyles?
A 3-month brisk walking intervention of 4,000 to 12,000 steps per day significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in sedentary Chinese office workers, with no additional benefit observed beyond 12,000 steps per day.
Pedometer-assisted brisk walking may aid BP management in sedentary workers; leaves open optimal step volumes pending randomized trials.
The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of brisk walking on blood pressure (BP) in Chinese Han occupational populations to identify the appropriate volume of exercise needed for BP management. Eight-hundred and two office staff with sedentary lifestyles were recruited to receive a prescription pedometer-assisted brisk walking intervention for 3 months. To evaluate exercise intervention efficiency using statistical methods, the effective steps was divided as follows: 4000- < 8000 (Level 1), 8000- < 10 000 (Level 2), 10 000-12 000 (Level 3), and > 12 000 (Level 4) steps/day. The data of 688 participants who completed the study were analyzed. After intervention, Systolic BP (SBP) and Diastolic BP (DBP) at Levels 1-3 were significantly decreased (p < .05). For participants with hypertension at baseline, all four levels demonstrated a significantly reduced SBP and DBP. In addition, there was a significant dose-effect relationship between the effective steps and the SBP. Compared with the maximum effective steps level (Level 4), the average change of SBP between level 1-3 and level 4 were statistically significant, with -3.24 mm Hg (95%CI: -5.74 to -0.74, p = .011), -2.58 mm Hg (95%CI: -4.73 to -0.43, p = .019), and -2.19 mm Hg (95%CI: -4.20 to -0.18, p = .033), respectively. For the hypertensive cohort, only the difference between Level 1 and 4 was statistically significant (Level 1 vs. Level 4: difference in means = -6.22 mm Hg, 95%CI: -12.68 to -0.24, p = .036). No significant dose-effect relationship of DBP was observed. Our findings showed brisk walking can effectively control BP in Chinese populations and a significant dose-effect relationship was found between exercise and SBP.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Yu et al. (2021) studied Sedentary lifestyle (n=688). Brisk walking vs. >12000 steps/day (Level 4) was evaluated on Change in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) (MD -3.24 mm Hg, 95% CI -5.74 to -0.74, p=0.011). A 3-month brisk walking intervention significantly reduced systolic blood pressure in sedentary office workers, with 4000 to <8000 steps/day showing a greater reduction (MD -3.24 mm Hg) compared to >12000 steps/day.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: