Subgroup analyses showed smaller sample s reporting larger effect sizes ; intervention lasting less than 6 months showed larger effect sizes and intention-to-treat analysis showed smaller effect sizes Lifestyle interventions may be of value in preventing and reducing blood pressure in LMICs .
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication , hypertension remains poorly controlled in low and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .
[The influence of programmed physical activity on blood pressure of hypertensive elderly patients on non-pharmacological treatment].
OBJECTIVE Assess the influence of physical activity on the blood pressure of hypertensive elderly patients on non-pharmacological treatment ( NPT ) .  METHODS The authors studied men and women , over 60 years , with stage I hypertension who were not using antihypertensive medication . These patients had been r and omly allocated to one of two groups : Control Group ( CG ) - oriented to NPT ; and Study Group ( SG ) - NPT and a program that included supervised physical activity consisting of 1-hour sessions , 3 times a week . Duration of the study was 6 months . Screening and follow-up tests every 3 months , at Visits 1 , 2 and 3 included a  clinical evaluation , ECG , a treadmill stress test , Ambulatory Blood Pressure Measurement ( ABPM ) and an Echocardiogram .  The authors used the Friedman test for the evolutionary analysis of the intra-groups means and Student 's t test to compare independent data between groups . RESULTS Twenty-four patients were r and omized in the SG ( 5 men ) and 21 in the CG ( 4 men ) . The 6-month follow-up period was completed by 22 patients in the SG and 13 in the CG . Blood pressures found by the ABPM in V1 , V2 and V3 were 134.2 + /-14.5 , 136.1 + /-9 and 143.7+/-13.9 mmHg for Systolic Blood Pressure in the CG ; and 135.6 + /-11.4 , 138.7 + /-12.2 and 133.9 + /-8.5 mmHg in the SG . For Diastolic Blood Pressure , values in the CG were 78.7+/-5.8 , 82.3+/-6.2 and 83.3 + /-9.2 mmHg ; and in the SG , 80.1 + /-6.8 , 81+/-6.6 and 80.8 + /-7.3 mmHg . CONCLUSION Programmed and supervised physical activity was more efficient for maintaining adequate blood pressure control in these elderly with stage I hypertension in the study group , when compared to the control group
Subgroup analyses showed smaller sample s reporting larger effect sizes ; intervention lasting less than 6 months showed larger effect sizes and intention-to-treat analysis showed smaller effect sizes Lifestyle interventions may be of value in preventing and reducing blood pressure in LMICs .
Despite the overwhelming evidence supporting the effectiveness of antihypertensive medication , hypertension remains poorly controlled in low and middle-income countries ( LMICs ) .