BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Arterial stiffness (AS) predicts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and relates to multiple factors. But the best interventions for AS in high-risk CVD groups are unknown. This review focuses on how different interventions affect AS and related indicators. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, Cochrane Library, EBSCO, and Web of Science for relevant studies. Inclusion criteria: (1) randomized controlled trials (RCT); (2) participants with CVD risk factors as per American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines; (3) interventions including Whole-Body Vibration (WBV), statins (STA), interval training (INT), aerobic exercise (AE), resistance exercise (RT), and combined exercise (CT); (4) control groups with usual care or placebo; (5) outcomes of pulse wave velocity (PWV), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP); (6) studies in English. Data were analyzed using a random effects network meta-analysis and assessed for bias using the Cochrane tool. RESULTS: This meta-analysis of 58 studies (n = 2,931) found all long-term interventions (STA, WBV, CT, RT, AE, INT) significantly reduced PWV (p < 0.001). WBV, INT, and AE notably lowered both SBP and DBP (p < 0.001). hSTA showed optimal PWV reduction (SUCRA 92.0), while WBV showed highest efficacy for SBP (SUCRA 94.0) and DBP (SUCRA 77.3). CONCLUSIONS: For CVD high-risk populations, high doses of statins (hSTA) optimally reduces AS; WBV is the top non-drug AS intervention, while INT best improves both AS and BP short-term. Combined, these interventions significantly enhance outcomes.

Full text (sometimes free) may be available at these link(s):      help

• PubMed Central
• DOI
• PubMed
• PDF locator
• publisher