HypertensionMeta-analysis
Exercise effects on maternal vascular health and blood pressure during pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review and meta-analysis
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials
- random-effects
Authors' conclusion
Exercise training during pregnancy and the postpartum period demonstrates a favourable effect on reducing maternal BP.
Study context
- Population
- Women during pregnancy and postpartum
- Participants
- 1,221 women · 20 randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
- Comparison
- Prenatal or postpartum exercise vs non-exercise control
- Outcome
- PWV, FMD and BP
- Follow-up
- From pregnancy to 1-year postpartum
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
PWV, FMD and BP (exercise vs non-exercise control) · pregnancy to 1-year postpartum
Systolic BP (SBP) reduction with exercise, MD
−4.37 mmHg (−7.48 to −1.26; P = 0.006) (95% CI; P)
Diastolic BP (DBP) reduction with exercise, MD
−2.94 mmHg (−5.17 to −0.71; P = 0.01) (95% CI; P)
Further pooled results
Blood pressure (BP) by gestational stage, exercise type, weekly exercise time and training period (subgroups)
- Consistent trends across subgroups
Original publication
Exercise effects on maternal vascular health and blood pressure during pregnancy and postpartum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Prev Cardiol. Published 7 May 2024. doi:10.1093/eurjpc/zwae165
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it