Summary of the grading of the evidence for the conclusion statements on the blood pressure (BP) response to the exercise alone, medications alone, and exercise and medications combined and their comparisons among adults with hypertension
| Conclusion statement | Grade |
| Primary literature* | |
| Strong evidence demonstrates exercise alone, medication alone and exercise and medication combined reduce BP among adults with hypertension. | Strong16–27 |
| Strong evidence demonstrates exercise and medication combined elicit BP reductions of less magnitude than the sum of exercise alone plus medication alone among adults with hypertension. | Strong16–23 |
| Strong evidence demonstrates exercise and medication combined potentiate the magnitude of the SBP reductions from medication alone among adults with hypertension. | Strong16–27 |
| Insufficient evidence is available to determine whether exercise and medication combined potentiate the DBP reductions from medicine alone among adults with hypertension. | Not assignable16–27 |
| Limited evidence suggests exercise and medication combined potentiate the SBP reductions from exercise alone among adults with hypertension. | Limited16–24 26 |
| Insufficient evidence is available to determine whether exercise and medication combined potentiate the DBP reductions from exercise alone among adults with hypertension. | Not assignable16–24 26 |
| Limited evidence suggests exercise alone elicits greater SBP reductions than medication alone among adults with hypertension. | Limited16–23 |
| Limited evidence suggests medication alone elicits greater DBP reductions than exercise alone among adults with hypertension. | Limited16–23 |
| Secondary literature† | |
| Strong evidence demonstrates exercise alone, medication alone, and exercise and medication combined reduce BP among adults with hypertension. | Strong47–59 |
| Strong evidence demonstrates exercise and medication combined potentiate the magnitude of the BP reductions from medication alone among adults with hypertension. | Strong48 50 55 56 |
| Moderate evidence indicates exercise alone elicits greater BP reductions than medication alone among adults with hypertension. | Moderate55 56 58 |
| Insufficient evidence is available to determine whether the exercise and medication combined potentiate the BP reductions from exercise alone among adults with hypertension. | Not assignable.47 49 52 53 57 59 |
*The conclusions in the primary literature are largely based on evidence from the randomised controlled trials involving acute and chronic aerobic and resistance exercise.
†The conclusions in the secondary literature are largely based on evidence from the meta-analyses involving chronic complementary and alternative types of exercise.
DBP, diastolic BP; SBP, systolic BP.