Evidence mapPaperPMID 40458096Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in public health2025

Aerobic activity significantly reduces blood pressure among hypertensive adults in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Titus Robert Leeyio, Nicholas Philip Katto, Faiza Mohamed Juma, Farida Iddy Mkassy, Anthony Cuthbert Liwa, Sarah Shali Matuja, Daniel Byamungu, Philip Ayieko, Deogratius Bintabara, Eveline Thobias Konje

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in public health, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Titus Robert Leeyio *Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Nicholas Philip Katto *Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Faiza Mohamed Juma *Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Farida Iddy MkassyDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Anthony Cuthbert LiwaDepartment of Pharmacology, Weill School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Sarah Shali MatujaDepartment of Internal Medicine, Weill School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Daniel ByamunguDepartment of Physiology, Weill School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Philip AyiekoMwanza Intervention Trial Unit, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Deogratius BintabaraDepartment of Community Medicine, The University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Eveline Thobias KonjeDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa is faced with the increasing prevalence of high blood pressure, with projections estimating that 216.8 million people will be affected by 2030. Aerobic activity has been recognized for its cardiovascular benefits. However, its effect remains under-explored, and the findings are largely inconsistent. Therefore, this review aimed to estimate the overall effect of aerobic activity on blood pressure among hypertensive adults receiving medication in Africa. Methods: Randomized clinical trials conducted in Africa and published between 2000 and September 2024 were considered eligible if they included hypertensive adults aged 18 years and older. Studies were identified through searches on PubMed, African Journal Online, Hinari, and Science Direct databases. In addition, the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROBIS-2) was used for quality assessment. Results: Of the 683 articles identified, eight qualified for qualitative assessment, comprising 1,112 participants on antihypertensive medication (625 in the intervention group and 487 in the control group). The follow-up duration ranged from 6 to 16 weeks, with different aerobic modalities such as brisk walking, dance, and bicycle ergometer. These activities were performed either continuously or at different time intervals (three times per week), lasting between 30 and 60 min. The overall risk of bias was moderate, and the intensity of the training was based on VO Conclusion: Our finding shows that adherence to antihypertensive medications in addition to aerobic activity effectively reduced blood pressure among hypertensive adults in Africa, particularly at 8 weeks, with a slightly diminished effect in prolonged durations. It is, therefore, imperative to conduct further studies in this area of hypertension management. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42024614250.

Indexed as

Blood PressureExerciseHypertensionAdultAfricaAntihypertensive AgentsHumansMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicAntihypertensive Agentsaerobic activityAfricablood pressurehypertensionhypertensive patientsphysical exercise

Identifiers

PMID40458096
PMCPMC12127397

What Socratic holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.