Although the impact of physical exercise on blood lipids is well documented, less information is available regarding the effect of traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs), and it is unclear what the best TCE treatment for dyslipidemia in middle-aged and elderly individuals is. The aim of this study was to systematically assess the effects of TCEs (Taijiquan, TJQ; Wuqinxi, WQX; Baduanjin, BDJ; Liuzijue, LZJ; Yijinjing, YJJ; Dawu, DW) on blood lipids in middle-aged and elderly individuals. Chinese and English databases were searched, including PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, Chongqing VIP, and Web of Science. A total of 42 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 2977 subjects were analyzed. Outcome indicators include total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triacylglyceride (TAG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Summary mean differences (MD) were calculated using pairwise and network meta-analysis with a random-effects model. The results of this study showed that compared to non-exercise intervention (NEI), all six kinds of TCE treatment had some kind of influence on blood lipid indicators, among which WQX and TJQ could improve all four blood lipid indicators, whereas BDJ was effective on three indicators but not on TC. The results of cumulative probability ranking showed that WQX (84.9%, 73.8%, 63.4%, 63.1% to TC, TAG, HDL-C, LDL-C, respectively) was at the top spot being the best intervention, followed by BDJ (55.6%, 83.7%, 68.4%, 56.1%) and TJQ (73.7%, 47.6%, 63.1%, 54.1%). The network meta-analysis of RCTs demonstrates that WQX may be the best TCE treatment for dyslipidemia in middle-aged and elderly individuals.

This study aimed to assess the predictive performance and establish optimal cut-off points of blood pressure for identifying arteriosclerosis in eastern Chinese adults. Brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was utilized to evaluate arteriosclerosis. The predictive performance of blood pressure for arteriosclerosis was determined by the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics; the optimal blood pressure cut-off points were determined by Youden’s index. A logistic regression model was used to acquire the odds ratio (OR) of blood pressure for arteriosclerosis. The AUCs of blood pressure for identifying arteriosclerosis were 0.868 (95%CI: 0.860–0.875) for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 0.835 (95%CI: 0.827–0.843) for diastolic blood pressure (DBP), both p < 0.01. The AUCs of women were higher than that of men (0.903 vs. 0.819 for SBP; 0.847 vs. 0.806 for DBP; Z test p < 0.05). The AUCs in the 18–39.9-years group were higher than that in the 40–59.9-years and 60–84-years groups (0.894 vs. 0.842 and 0.818 for SBP; 0.889 vs. 0.818 and 0.759 for DBP; Z test p < 0.05). The total optimal cut-off points of blood pressure for predicting arteriosclerosis were 123.5/73.5 mmHg (SBP/DBP) overall; 123.5/73.5 and 126.5/79.5 mmHg for women and men, respectively; and 120.5/73.5, 123.5/76.5, and 126.5/75.5 mmHg for 18–39.9-years, 40–59.9-years, and 60–84-years groups, respectively. Blood pressure indexes had a high predictive performance for identifying arteriosclerosis with the optimal cut-off point of 123.5/73.5 mmHg (SBP/DBP) in eastern Chinese adults. Women or the younger population have a higher predictive performance and lower cut-off points to identify arteriosclerosis.