Immediate blood pressure-lowering effects of aerobic exercise among patients with chronic kidney disease

The current study was designed to determine the effect of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on blood pressure responses within the laboratory for 60 min post exercise and in the subsequent 24 h period in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Twenty-four subjects with stages 2-4 chronic kidney disease (age = 54.5 +/- 15.2 years, body mass index = 32.0 +/- 5.9 kg/m(2)) on antihypertensive medication completed this study. In random counterbalanced order, subjects were asked to either walk for 40 min at 50-60% VO(2peak) (oxygen consumption) or, on a separate day, to sit quietly in the laboratory for the same length of time. Following exercise or the non-exercise period, blood pressure was taken at 10 min intervals for 60 min. Subjects then wore an ambulatory blood pressure monitor for the next 24 h.

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) was reduced by 6.5 +/- 10.8 compared with the pre-exercise baseline value (130.3 +/- 21.1) in the laboratory after exercise and this was greater than after the control period (0.73 +/- 10.3, P < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) was reduced following exercise (2.5 +/- 6.4) compared with the control period (2.1 +/- 4.9, P < 0.05). The mean 24 h readings did not differ between exercise or non-exercise days.

Acute aerobic exercise leads to reduced blood pressure for at least 60 min within the laboratory in chronic kidney disease patients.