EFFECTS OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON BLOOD PRESSURE CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH INDICES AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH UNCONTROLLED HYPERTENSION ON TWO ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

Abstract

Studies have indicated that poor drug compliance and uncontrolled hyperiension arc common among Nigerian patients on three or more antihypertensive drugs. Blood Pressure (BP) lowering effect of Aerobic. Exercise Training (AFT) has been documented but it is uncertain that combining Ail- with two antihypertensive drugs would achieve BP control in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension, This study investigated the effects of AET on BP, 5elected cardiovascular health indices and Quality of Lire ( L) or individuals with uncontrolled hypertension on two antihypertensive drugs, This randomized-controlled trial involved 120 individuals newly diagnosed with essential hypertension placed on combined 50 mg or hydrochlorothiazide and 5 mg of hydrochloride amiloride and 5 or 10 mg of amlodipine for 4-6 weeks with poor control (BP ≥140/90 mmhg). Doses of the antihypertensive drugs were similar in both groups throughout the study. Participants were consecutively recruited and randomly assigned equally into Exercise Group (E0) and Control Group (CG). Only. EG underwent AE T for 12 weeks. Body Mass Index BP, Percent Body Fat (%BF), waist circumference and exercise capacity were measured using standard methods. Blood lipids were assessed using enzymatic colorimetric method and QoL was assessed using the World Health Organization QoL-Bref (four domains). All variables were measured pre- and post-stud. Data were analysed using independent t-test. Chi square, paired t-test. Mann-Whitney -U test, Wilcoxon test and analysis of covariance at p = 0.05. Mean ages of EG and CG were 50.8113 and 54,8+8,6 years (p-value-0.012) respectively. Baseline variables were comparable in both groups except age. BM1 and %BF. More participants in EG (53.3%) than in CG (35.0%)had BP control post-study. Mean Systolic BP (SBP) decreased significantly in EG (154.8±.10.3 to 136.0±15.3 mmhg) and CG (156.6±I2.5 to 147.8±18.3 mmHg); mean Diastolic BP (DBP) decreased significantly in EG (92.7±9.0 to 83.8±10.8 mmHg) and CG (93.3±11.0 to 87.7±10.5 mmHg) post-study. Only EG had significant reductions in mean low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (120.1±33.4 to 110.5±31.7 mg/dl), mean triglyceride (117.5±45.1 to 100.6±35.4 mg/dl) and mean BMl (27.4±.5.0 to 27.1±5.0 kg/m²), and improvement in exercise capacity ( 1.1±0.3 to 1.3±0.2 ml/kg/ min) post-study. There were significant improvements in physical-health. Psychological-health and social-relationship domains of QoL in both groups and in environment domain in EG post-study. The EG had significantly lower SBP (135.5±2.1 versus 146.8±2.1 mmHg), DBP (83.1±1.3 versus 88.4±I.3 mmHg) and DMI (26.2±0.1 versus 26.6±0.1 kg/m²2) and better improvement in exercise capacity (1.2±0.0 versus 1.1±0.1 ml/kg/min) physical-health (52.8 versus 36.3),psychological-health (51.5 versus 36.5) and environment (54.0 versus 34.9) domains ofQ01., than CO post-study. The combination of aerobic exercise training and ma antihypertensive drugs achieved more reductions in blood pressure and body mass index, better blood pressure control, improved exercise capacity and quality of life than two antihypertensive drugs alone in individuals with uncontrolled hypertension. Aerobic exercise should be recomended as an adjunctive treatment option in the management of uncontrolled hypertension.

Key words: Adiposity, Aerobic exercise training, blood pressure control, Exercise capacity, Quality of Life Word Count: 465