Highlights
- •Tai Chi lowers blood pressure and increases the quality of life in adults with essential hypertension.
- •Tai Chi lowers total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and blood glucose.
- •Tai Chi has no significant effect on high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol.
- •There is strong evidence for the short-term efficacy of Tai Chi exercises.
Abstract
Background
Hypertension is the major attributable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The
effect of Tai Chi on essential hypertension (EH) is contentious.
Objectives
In this study, we investigated the effects of Tai Chi on the risk factors for cardiovascular
disease and quality of life in adults with EH.
Methods
Using data collected from 15 databases up to December 2018, we meta-analyzed randomized
controlled trials of the effect of Tai Chi on EH.
Results
Tai Chi exercise was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD −12.47,
95%CI −16.00 to −8.94, P < 0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD −6.46, 95%CI −8.28 to −4.64, P < 0.001); better quality of life (SMD 0.62, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.90, P < 0.001); lower lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (WMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.62
to −0.37, P < 0.001), triglycerides (WMD −0.49, 95% CI −0.92 to −0.07, P = 0.02), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD −0.86, 95% CI −1.30
to −0.43, P < 0.001); and lower blood glucose (WMD −0.91, 95% CI −1.59 to −0.23, P = 0.009). Tai Chi had no significant effect on high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol
(WMD −0.92, 95% CI −2.21 to −0.37, P = 0.16).
Conclusions
Tai Chi lowers blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and blood
glucose and significantly increases the quality of life in adults with EH. There is
strong evidence for the short-term efficacy of Tai Chi exercises. Larger well-designed
RCTs focused on the long-term effect of Tai Chi exercises and patient adherence are
needed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 12, 2020
Accepted:
February 7,
2020
Received in revised form:
February 2,
2020
Received:
May 5,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Published by Elsevier Inc.
