What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Meta-Analysis. Population: hypertension (n=3478). Intervention: traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies vs. traditional antihypertensive medications or conventional interventions. Primary outcome: systolic blood pressure (SBP) (MD -8.78, 95% CI (-12.44, -5.16), p=<0.001).

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study compares the effects of traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies on health metrics in older patients with hypertension.

March 14, 2026Open Access

Comparison of the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies on blood pressure, lipids, and sleep quality among older patients suffering from hypertension: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Wuqinxi and Qigong significantly improved systolic blood pressure by 8.78 mmHg compared to the control group in older patients with hypertension.

Q: What question did this study set out to answer?

This study compares the effects of traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies on health metrics in older patients with hypertension.

Key Result

Wuqinxi and Qigong significantly improved systolic blood pressure by 8.78 mmHg compared to the control group in older patients with hypertension.

Key Points

This study compares the effects of traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies on health metrics in older patients with hypertension.
Conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
Searched eight databases including PubMed and Cochrane Library
Evaluated therapeutic effects on blood pressure, cholesterol, quality of life, and sleep quality
Performed data extraction and quality assessment using Stata and R
Included 44 RCTs with 3,478 older patients
Wuqinxi (WQX) and Qigong (QG) effectively reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure
Baduanjin (BDJ) showed the best improvement in total cholesterol, LDL-C, and sleep quality
Tai Chi notably improved triglyceride levels
WQX and QG had the highest potential rankings for lowering blood pressure.

Study Design

Type

Meta-Analysis (n=3,478)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Do traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies improve blood pressure, lipids, and sleep quality in older patients with hypertension?

Population

3,478 older patients (≥60 years) with hypertension (SBP ≥140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥90 mmHg) pooled from 44 RCTs. 56.3% male.

Intervention

Traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies (Tai Chi, Baduanjin, Qigong, and Wuqinxi) added to conventional therapy for at least 2 weeks (average duration 17 weeks).

Comparator

Conventional antihypertensive medications alone, conventional antihypertensive medications combined with health education, or conventional antihypertensive medications combined with regular walking.

Outcome

Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)surrogate

Traditional Chinese medicine exercises, particularly Wuqinxi, Qigong, and Baduanjin, are effective adjunctive therapies for improving blood pressure, lipid profiles, and sleep quality in older patients with hypertension.

Main Result

Effect estimate: MD -8.78 (95% CI (-12.44, -5.16))

p-value: p=<0.001

Limitations

Inconsistency in quality of included studies
Possible publication bias
Variability in interventions and outcomes measured

Abstract

Purpose This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine exercise therapies on blood pressure, blood lipid, quality of life, Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), and heart rate (HR) among older patients suffering from hypertension through a network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods A total of eight databases (in Chinese or English)—PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang Data, CQVIP, and China Biology Medicine disc (CBM disc)—were systematically retrieved up to 7 August 2025, in order to determine eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the therapeutic effects of different traditional Chinese medicine exercises on blood pressure in older populations. Literature screening was performed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction and quality evaluation were performed through Stata 17.0 and R (version 4.3.3) within this NMA framework. Results This study included 44 RCTs, involving 3,478 older patients suffering from hypertension. Wuqinxi (WQX) and Qigong (QG) showed equivalent effects in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Baduanjin (BDJ) was most effective in improving total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and PSQI. Tai Chi demonstrated the most significant effects in improving triglyceride (TG). The surface under the cumulative ranking curve ranking indicated that WQX (85.7%) and QG (76.8%) had the highest potential to be the best exercise interventions for improving SBP and DBP. BDJ was the most beneficial intervention for improving TC (95.1%), LDL-C (95.1%), and PSQI (80.5%). Conclusion Traditional Chinese medicine exercises exhibit different therapeutic effects in older patients with hypertension. Patients engage in targeted exercises based on their own conditions. WQX, QG, and BDJ may be the most effective therapies, while TC (Tai Chi) is the least effective intervention. Systematic Review Registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251049049 , Registration No: CRD420251049049.

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