Abstract
Non-pharmacological treatment, including exercise, is an important therapy option
for patients with hypertension. The study assessed the reporting quality of exercise-based
interventions included in the latest meta-analysis on that topic in order to evaluate
the transferability of findings into clinical practice. Reporting quality of 24 randomised
controlled trials from a meta-analysis assessing blood pressure lowering effects of
endurance training in 1,195 hypertensive patients was evaluated using TIDieR (Template
for Intervention Description and Replication) and CERT (Consensus on Exercise Reporting
Template) guidelines. Associations between reporting quality, publication year and
impact factor of the publishing journals were examined. None of the studies described
all intervention components completely. On average 61% (95%CI: 52-69) (TIDieR) and
57% (95%CI: 49-64) (CERT) of core items required for replication were reported. Frequent
shortcomings were the reporting of adherence, intervention provider, and adverse events.
Details about exercise dosage were missing in 22% (95%CI: 4-40). Publication year
was related to the adherence to TIDieR (r=0.549, P=0.007) but not to CERT. No associations
with journal impact factor were found. Reporting of exercise-based interventions for
hypertension is not sufficient to allow for replication and limits translation of
evidence into clinical practice. Researchers should apply, and review authors, journal
editors and reviewers should check adherence to reporting guidelines.
Key words
reporting quality - intervention studies - exercise therapy - hypertension - guideline
