Effects Of Exercise Training On Blood Pressure: Protocol For An Overview Of Systematic Reviews

Abstract

Background This overview aims to identify, appraise, and summarize the findings of all relevant systematic reviews about the benefits and harms of different exercise training modalities on blood pressure in normotensive, pre-hypertensive, and high blood pressure adults. Methods This overview of systematic reviews protocol was reported following the PRISMA-P Statement. We will search MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Epistemonikos to identify systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in adults with or without a diagnosis of high blood pressure that compared exercise training interventions with other or no exercise interventions. Major outcomes will be blood pressure and adverse events. Pairs of reviewers will independently screen the systematic reviews for inclusion, extract data, and appraise the methodological quality. The GRADE approach will be used to evaluate the quality of the evidence. Discussion Findings from this study will contribute to the knowledge base in the area by providing a systematic synthesis of the certainty of the evidence for the effects of the different training modalities on blood pressure. These assessments might also assist in both the development of clinical practice guidelines and to strengthen evidence-informed decision making in healthcare. Finally, this study might serve to inform patients, caregivers, healthcare providers, researchers, and decision-makers about the benefits and adverse events related to different exercise training modalities, as well as the knowledge gaps in the body of evidence. Protocol registration: PROSPERO CRD42021247062