title: Group exercise improves patient compliance in mild to moderate hypertension.
abstract: One of the major problems of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment is compliance of the patient. We attempted to reduce compliance problems by using group exercise in hypertensive patients. A group of 29 hypertensive patients (aged 54 +/- 10 years) met weekly for nearly 2 years. Each session (90-120 min) comprised four parts: endurance training, gymnastics and relaxation, education and a discussion of related problems such as nutrition and lifestyle. There was a significant decrease in systolic (9%) and diastolic (6%) blood pressures at rest and during exercise (systolic 12%), and an increased maximal work load (18%). In addition, drug treatment was substantially reduced (reduced in 56% of patients abandoned in 10% of patients). Cholesterol levels were reduced by 18%, although, during a 6-10 day nutritional report, fat made up 40% of the total calorific intake, indicating the need for individualized dietary advice. The major goal was to improve compliance and increase non-pharmacological treatment, exercise being a minor consideration which may have relevance for the treatment of hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiology, Northrhine-Westfalia, Bad Oeynhausen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Gleichmann
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Philippi
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gleichmann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laun
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Mellwig
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Frohnapfel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Liebermann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D006126:Group Processes; D006173:Gymnastics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012064:Relaxation Therapy