Effect of Exercise Training on Blood Pressure in Healthy Postmenopausal Females: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis

Abstract

Introduction:The prevalence of hypertension is greater in postmenopausal females compared with males of similar age. Previous meta-analyses of normotensive and hypertensive adults have shown that aerobic exercise training reduces systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP). However, the effect of aerobic exercise training on blood pressure specifically within healthy postmenopausal females remains unclear. This systematic review with meta-analysis quantified the effect of aerobic exercise training on resting SBP and DBP in healthy postmenopausal females. Methods: The systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020198171). The literature search was done in MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL Plus, and SPORTDiscus. Randomized controlled trials involving healthy postmenopausal females with normal or high normal blood pressure and undergoing ≥4 wk of aerobic exercise training were included. The total weighted mean change in SBP and DBP was compared between the exercise and the control interventions. A random-effects model was used to calculate the overall effect sizes of the weighted mean differences and the 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Twelve studies were included in the meta-analysis (exercise interventions: n = 357, age = 60 ± 4 yr, baseline SBP/ DBP = 128 ± 13/79 ± 8 mm Hg; control interventions: n = 330, age = 60 ± 4 yr, baseline SBP/DBP = 126 ± 11/77 ± 6 mm Hg). Compared with the change observed in response to the control interventions, exercise training significantly reduced SBP (−0.43 mm Hg, 95% CI = −0.78 to −0.09, P = 0.02) and DBP (−0.39 mm Hg, 95% CI = −0.73 to −0.05, P = 0.05). Conclusions: Aerobic exercise training significantly reduces resting SBP and DBP in healthy postmenopausal females with normal or high normal blood pressure. However, this reduction is small and of uncertain clinical significance.

Effects of five types of exercise on vascular function in postmenopausal women: a network meta-analysis and systematic review of 32 randomized controlled trials

“…Currently, most meta-analyses that examine the effects of exercise on vascular health in postmenopausal women focus on single types of exercise and limited outcome measures ( Brislane et al, 2022 ; Saquetto et al, 2022 ). These analyses only reveal the health benefits of a particular type of exercise on blood pressure and lipid levels ( Xin et al, 2022 ; Zhou et al, 2023 ; Debray et al, 2023 ), with fewer studies comparing the effects of different types of exercise on vascular health in postmenopausal women. It is important to note that these findings are limited to the specific outcome measures studied and do not provide a comprehensive understanding of the effects of exercise on overall vascular health in this population.…”