Effect of interval training programme on pulse pressure in the management of hypertension: a randomized controlled trial

• Published in: African health sciences Vol. 13; no. 3; pp. 571 - 578
• Main Authors: Sikiru, L, Okoye, GC
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uganda Makerere University Medical School 01.01.2013; Makerere Medical School
• Subjects: Aged; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - physiology; Blood Pressure Determination - methods; Double-Blind Method; Exercise; Exercise Therapy - methods; Health and Medicine; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - therapy; Hypertension, Interval exercise, pulse pressure, cardiovascular risk factor, Blood pressure; Male; Medical research; Nigeria; Original; Oxygen Consumption - physiology; Nigeria; Hypertension; pulse pressure; Blood pressure; Interval exercise; cardiovascular risk factor
• ISSN: 1680-6905; 1729-0503; 1680-6905
• DOI: 10.4314/ahs.v13i3.7

Background: Pulse pressure (PP), might be a stronger determinants of cardiovascular risk. Objective: To investigate the effect of interval training program on PP in subjects with hypertension. Methods: Two hundred and forty five male patients with mild to moderate (Systolic Blood Pressure [SBP] between 140-179 & Diastolic Blood Pressure [DBP] between 90-109 mmHg) essential hypertension were age-matched and grouped into exercise and control groups. The exercise (work: rest ratio of 1:1) groups involved in an 8-weeks interval training programs of between 45-60 minutes, at intensities of 60-79% of HR max (maximum heart rate), while the control group remained sedentary during this period. SBP, DBP, VO2max and PP were assessed. Results: Findings of the study revealed significant correlation between PP and blood pressure;correlation of PP with SBP was much stronger (95% variance). Also, there was significant effect of the exercise training program on SBP, DBP and PP. Changes in VO2max also negatively correlated with changes in PP (r= -.285) at p<0.05. Conclusion: Moderate intensity interval training programs is effective in the non-pharmacological management of hypertension and may prevent cardiovascular event through the down regulation of PP in hypertension.