Physical Exercise in Hypertension, Randomised Clinical Trial

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hypertension

Treatments: Behavioral: Recommendation of regular exercise; Behavioral: moderate intensity training; Behavioral: Aerobic interval training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00218972

Traininghypertension

Details and patient eligibility

About

Endurance training has a documented effect on hypertension. However, only low to moderate training intensity has so far been studied. High aerobic intensity should, from physiological considerations, prove more effective in also reducing high blood pressure. The present study is a randomised comparison of high versus moderate intensity versus training in groups, and general advice on 24 hour blood pressure in hypertensives. The training period is 12 weeks, with follow-up after 1 year. Maximum oxygen uptake, quality of life, left ventricular function and blood vessel reactivity are also measured.

Full description

Endurance training has documented effect on blood pressure in hypertension. However, only low to moderate training intensity has so far been studied. Higher aerobic intensity based on individual measurements of maximum oxygen uptake is more efficient in increasing oxygen uptake, and might prove more effective in lowering blood pressure. Group training, on the other hand is not individualised, but less personnel required and may prove more cost effective. Endurance training is shown to improve both systolic and diastolic left ventricular function, as well as endothelial function. Both can be measured non-invasively by ultrasound.

The study is an open, randomised study with four arms, comparing:

• High aerobic intensity interval training
• Moderate aerobic intensity training
• Group training
• Controls receiving standard advice on lifestyle and training

Training effect is measured by Max. Oxygen uptake, blood pressure by continuous 24 hour ambulatory measurement, Left ventricular function by echo Doppler and endothelial function by flow mediated vasodilation by ultrasound.

The effect of exercise on blood pressure is dependent on continued training. All patients will be followed up after one year.

Enrollment: 88 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Essential hypertension grade 1 - 2 without medical treatment

Exclusion criteria

• End organ damage
• Two or more cardiovascular risk factors
• Diabetes

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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88 participants in 3 patient groups

AIT: aerobic interval training

Active Comparator group

Description:

High intensity interval training on treadmill at \> 90% of maximal HR for four bouts of four minutes with warm up, active pauses and cool down, three times per week for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aerobic interval training

MIT, moderate intensity training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Moderate intensity treadmill continuous exercise at 70% of maximum heart rate for 47 minutes (in order to ensure isocaloric training amount), three times per week for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: moderate intensity training

Recommendation of regular exercise

Active Comparator group

Description:

No training intervention, general advice as prescribed in guidelines.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Recommendation of regular exercise