Impact of Strength Training on Blood Pressure in Older Hypertensive Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

INTRODUCTION: Controlling high blood pressure in older adults is essential for managing cardiovascular risk, as outlined in major guidelines around the world. This study aimed to investigate the effects of strength training on blood pressure in older individuals with hypertension. METHODS: This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA guidelines and PICOS strategy. The databases used were MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and SciELO. The tools used for assessing risk of bias and methodological quality were Rob2 and TESTEX. In the meta-analysis, RevMan 5.4 software was employed. RESULTS: After the search process, 8,760 publications were identified, and 6 RCTs were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. The average age of the population was 69 years, and the total number of participants in the CG and EG was 134 and 191, respectively. The average training volume (VT) was 68 minutes per session, three times a week, over 11 weeks of intervention. In the SBP variable, the forest plot presented 6 studies and 8 analyses. The mean difference (MD) was -8.81 (-17.16 to -0.46) (I² = 95%, p < 0.00001), indicating an improvement in SBP (p= 0.04). In the DBP variable, n=6 studies and 8 analyses were included. The MD was -4.53 (-7.89 to -1.18) (I² = 88%, p< 0.001). Therefore, the mean result differed significantly from zero (p = 0.008), indicating improvement in the DBP variable. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis concluded that strength training reduces systolic and diastolic blood pressure in older hypertensive individuals.