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By CAFMI AI From JAMA
This important clinical trial investigates the effects of various physical activity doses on cardiorespiratory fitness among sedentary, overweight or obese postmenopausal women with mildly elevated blood pressure. The study enrolled 454 women with systolic blood pressure from 120 to 159 mm Hg and diastolic pressure between 80 and 99 mm Hg. Participants were randomized into four groups: a control group with no prescribed activity, and three physical activity groups performing moderate-intensity walking at low, moderate, or high doses, quantified as 4, 8, and 12 kcal/kg per week, respectively. Over six months, fitness improvements were measured via peak oxygen uptake during treadmill testing, a direct and clinically relevant marker of cardiorespiratory fitness.
The trial demonstrated a clear, dose-dependent improvement in fitness: those in the low-dose group improved by 4.2%, moderate-dose by 6.0%, and high-dose by 8.3%, all statistically significant changes. Importantly, even the lowest exercise dose yielded measurable cardiovascular fitness benefits. For primary care physicians, this evidence supports recommending moderate-intensity walking tailored to patients’ abilities and emphasizing any increase in physical activity as beneficial. The findings align well with current physical activity guidelines but add valuable data specific to a high-risk group—postmenopausal women with elevated blood pressure and overweight status. Encouraging incremental increases in activity could yield meaningful reductions in cardiovascular risk through improved fitness.
Clinicians should feel confident advising sedentary overweight postmenopausal women that starting moderate-intensity walking programs three to four days per week can improve heart and lung fitness. The study’s dose-response relationship informs dose tailoring: more exercise yields greater fitness gains, but any volume is better than none. Given the safety and accessibility of walking as a form of exercise, it can be integrated into primary care recommendations effectively. Monitoring and supporting gradual increases in activity levels in this patient population may improve cardiovascular outcomes and overall quality of life. This trial fills a critical evidence gap and strengthens the rationale for prescribing exercise as a cornerstone of preventive care in similar patients.
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