Author: Zhong D1, Li J1, Yang H2, Li Y2, Huang Y1, Xiao Q2, Liu T3, Jin R4
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
<sup>2</sup>School of Acupuncture Moxibustion and Tuina/The Third Affiliated Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
<sup>3</sup>School of Physical Education, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
<sup>4</sup>School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China. cdzyydxjrj@126.com.
Conference/Journal: Curr Hypertens Rep.
Date published: 2020 Mar 2
Other:
Volume ID: 22 , Issue ID: 3 , Pages: 25 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1007/s11906-020-1031-y. , Word Count: 265
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To investigate the effectiveness and safety of Tai Chi for essential hypertension (EH).
RECENT FINDINGS: A total of 9 databases were searched from inception to January 1, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness and safety of Tai Chi for EH were included. Study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment were performed independently by 2 reviewers. A total of 28 RCTs involving 2937 participants were ultimately included in this systematic review. Meta-analysis showed that, compared with health education/no treatment, other exercise or antihypertensive drugs (AHD), Tai Chi showed statistically significant difference in lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The trial sequential analysis suggested that the evidence in our meta-analysis was reliable and conclusive. Subgroup analyses of Tai Chi vs. AHD demonstrated Tai Chi for hypertension patients < 50 years old showed greater reduction in SBP and DBP. Intervention of 12-24 weeks could significantly lower SBP and DBP. Among 28 included RCTs, 2 RCTs reported that no adverse events occurred. The quality of evidence for the blood pressure (BP) of Tai Chi vs. AHD was moderate, and DBP of Tai Chi vs. health education (HE)/ no treatment (NT) was high. Other outcome indicators were considered low or very low quality according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Tai Chi could be recommended as an adjuvant treatment for hypertension, especially for patients less than 50 years old. However, due to poor methodological qualities of included RCTs and high heterogeneity, this conclusion warrants further investigation.
KEYWORDS: Essential hypertension; Meta-analysis; Randomized controlled trails; Systematic review; Tai Chi; Trial sequential analysis
PMID: 32124064 DOI: 10.1007/s11906-020-1031-y