Table 2.
Characteristics of included studies.
| Study ID | Sample (E/C) | Age (years) | Sex (M/F) | Diagnosis standard | Hypertension classification (E/C) | Frequency | Experimental groups | Control groups | Duration | Outcome indicators | Dropout (E/C) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chen [45] | 30/30 | 66.3 ± 5.8 | NR | NR | EH | 44 min/day, 5 days/week | Qigong (Mawangdui Daoyinshu) | No intervention | 6 months | SBP, DBP, NO, ET-1 | NR |
| Chen [46] | 30/30 | E: 69.23 ± 3.72 C: 70.06 ± 3.51 |
E: 13/14 C: 16/12 |
GPTHC (2005 edition) | EH, stage I (60) | 30 min/day, 5 days/week | Qigong (Baduanjin) + antihypertensive drug | Antihypertensive drug (amlodipine besylate 5 mg qd or telmisartan 80 mg qd) | 3 months | SBP, DBP, NO, ET-1 | 3/2 |
| Chen [47] | 20/20 | E: 64.3 C: 60.7 |
E: 9/11 C: 13/7 |
GPTHC (2004 edition) | EH, stage II (26), stage III (14) | 40 min/day, 7 days/week | Chen-style Tai Chi + antihypertensive drug | Antihypertensive drug (nifedipine sustained-release tablets, EH of stage II: 25 mg bid; EH of stage III: 50 mg bid) | 2.5 months | SBP, DBP, NO | 0/0 |
| Fu [48] | 30/30 | E: 57.93 ± 6.63 C: 59.53 ± 7.46 |
E: 20/10 C: 19/11 |
GPTHC (2010 edition) | EH, stage I (24/21), stage II (6/9) | 40 min/day, 6 days/week | Qigong (self-compiled) + antihypertensive drug | Antihypertensive drug (CCB, ACEI, ARB, DAD. NR specific drug and dosage) |
3 months | SBP, DBP, NO, ET-1 | NR |
| Jin et al. [49] | 27/27 | 56.9 ± 5.7 | 11/43 | GPTHC (2010 edition) | EH, stage I (54) | 40 min/day, 7 days/week | 24-movement Yang-style Tai Chi | Antihypertensive drug (amlodipine 2.5 mg qd) | 1.5 months | SBP, DBP, NO, ET-1 | 0/0 |
| Liu [50] | 30/30 | E: 56.8 ± 6.78 C: 56.33 ± 7.16 |
E: 16/14 C: 19/11 |
GPTHC (2015 edition) | EH, stage I (19/21), stage II (11/9) | 40 min/day, 5 days/week | 24-movement Yang-style Tai Chi + antihypertensive drug | Antihypertensive drug (amlodipine besylate 5 mg qd) | 3 months | NO, ET-1 | NR |
| Xiao et al. [51] | 24/24 | 65.6 ± 7.8 | NR | NR | EH | 40 min/day, 5 days/week | Qigong (Baduanjin) | No intervention | 6 months | SBP, DBP, NO, ET-1 | NR |
| Xiao [52] | 42/42 | E:60.2 ± 4.6 C: 60.5 ± 4.9 |
E: 24/18 C: 22/20 |
GPTHC (2010 edition) | EH | 60 min/day, 5 days/week | 8-style Tai Chi + aerobic exercise | Aerobic exercise (jog and walk fast) | 3 months | SBP, DBP, NO, ET-1 | NR |
| Xie et al. [53] | 25/25 | 60–70 | E: 11/14 C: 14/11 |
GPTHC (2005 edition) | EH, stage I (20), stage II (30) | 60 min/day, 5 days/week | 24-movement Yang-style Tai Chi | No intervention | 3 months | SBP, DBP, NO | NR |
E: experimental group, C: control group, M: male, F: female, EH: essential hypertension; NR: not reported; GPTHC: Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Hypertension in China, SBP: systolic blood pressure, DBP: diastolic blood pressure, NO: nitric oxide, ET-1: endothelin-1, CCB: calcium channel blockers, ACEI: angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ARB: angiotensin receptor blocker, DAD: diuretic antihypertensive drug, qd: quaque die/once day, bid: bis in die/twice day. Diagnosis standard: GPTHC (2004 edition): phase II (160 mmHg ≤ SBP ≤ 179 mmHg and/or 100 mmHg ≤ DBP ≤ 109 mmHg), phase III (SBP ≥ 180 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 110 mmHg). GPTHC (2005 edition): phase I (140 mmHg ≤ SBP ≤ 159 mmHg, and/or 90 mmHg ≤ DBP ≤ 99 mmHg), phase II (160 mmHg≤ SBP < 180 mmHg and/or 100 mmHg ≤ DBP < 110 mmHg). GPTHC (2010 edition): phase I (140 mmHg ≤ SBP ≤ 159 mmHg and/or 90 mmHg ≤ DBP ≤ 99 mmHg), phase II (160 mmHg ≤ SBP < 179 mmHg and/or 100 mmHg ≤ DBP < 109 mmHg). GPTHC (2015 edition): phase I (140 mmHg ≤ SBP ≤ 159 mmHg and/or 90 mmHg ≤ DBP ≤ 99 mmHg), phase II (160 mmHg ≤ SBP ≤ 179 mmHg and/or 100 mmHg ≤ DBP ≤ 109 mmHg). Additional description: the 8-style Tai Chi is also called Yi-duan Quan and adopts the eight main and basic movements of Yang-style Tai Chi. There are 10 movements in the 8-style Tai Chi (including starting and ending). The exercise moves from slow to slightly fast and then from slightly fast to slowly end. Chen-style Tai Chi is characterized by the combination of Yin and Yang and the combination of hardness and softness. This exercise has slow/soft movements similar to the Yang-style and fast/hard movements similar to aerobic exercises.