Does Systolic Blood Pressure Response to Lifestyle Intervention Indicate Metabolic Risk and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Improvement Over 1 Year?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether responders (minimum 4-mm Hg reduction of systolic blood pressure [BP]) at 24 weeks) to a 52-week lifestyle intervention had greater changes in metabolic risk factors and health-related quality of life than nonresponders. Participants (N=126; age, 57.4 [9.1] years) had waist circumference (WC), resting BP, glycated hemoglobin, lipids, and fitness assessed at baseline and at 12, 24, and 52 months. The 36-item short-form survey was administered to assess HRQOL. At baseline, responders had higher mental health scores (P=.04) and systolic and diastolic BPs (P<.001) than nonresponders. Across 52 weeks, responders also had greater improvements in diastolic BP (P<.001), WC (P=.01), and maximal oxygen uptake (P=.04) compared with nonresponders. Participants with clinically important changes in systolic BP at 24 weeks had greater metabolic improvements across 52 weeks, compared with those without clinically important systolic BP changes.