Effect of Structured Exercise on Blood Pressure in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that primarily affects joints and causes mobility problems. RA is associated with high mortality and morbidity as a result of the increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, such as blood pressure (BP), in these patients. Exercise has a beneficial effect on CVD and CV risk factors and improves the overall well-being of RA patients. This systematic review aims to investigate the effect of exercise on CVD and CV risk factors, specifically BP, in RA patients. We searched the relevant literature across databases such as PubMed, PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. In this study, we included English-language studies with full text and related information on the impact of exercise on CVD in RA patients. The study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) appraisal method for evaluating non-randomized clinical trials (RCTs), pilot studies, and observational studies, the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist for systematic reviews, and the Narrative Review Checklist for the narrative review studies. Eight relevant studies were included in this systematic review. The study shows that different types of exercise, from low to high intensity, have a beneficial effect on CVD and CV risk factors such as BP in RA patients. Exercise improves mortality, morbidity, and overall quality of life in this patient population. The study strongly recommends incorporating physical activity into the management of RA patients.