Studies that assessed the use of t'ai chi in people with known cardiovascular disease or with cardiovascular disease risk factors (including hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes) were eligible for inclusion. Studies on people with stroke or healthy people were excluded. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), non-randomised studies and observational studies were included.
In some included studies, participants had coronary heart disease (including post myocardial infarction and angina) or heart failure, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes; in others, there were mixed populations where some participants had cardiovascular disease (coronary heart disease, hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, heart condition or arrhythmia), and others had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic bronchitis or were healthy. Participants were community dwellers, hospital rehabilitation patients or t'ai chi practitioners. Where stated, experience of t'ai chi ranged from none through six to 30 years. Mean ages ranged from 51 to 70 years. Interventions were Wu, Yang, Wu Chian Chuan, Cheng, Yang and Sun or unspecified t'ai chi, with or without Qigong. Control groups received exercise to music, walking, aerobic dance, calisthenics, Qigong, captopril (one study), support, no control, usual care or usual activity. Interventions lasted from eight weeks to three years. Reported outcomes were blood pressure, heart rate, exercise capacity, heart rate variability, blood lipids, fasting glucose, pulmonary function, cardiac haemodynamic indices, functional measures, flexibility, mood and quality of life.
The authors stated neither how the papers were selected for the review nor how many reviewers performed the selection