Relationship between leisure-time physical activity and blood pressure in adults

Abstract

Background: High blood pressure (BP) is found at epidemic levels in adults of industrialized societies, thereby favoring an increase in the risk of development of numerous cardiovascular pathologies. Objective: To investigate the relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and high systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adults, in the city of Salvador, state of Bahia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 2,292 adults of both sexes, aged ≥ 20 years. Those who engaged in physical activity during their leisure time were considered to be active in their free time. We used logistic regression analysis to estimate the odds ratio (OR), with confidence interval of 95%. Results: After the adjustment for age and stratification by sex, the relationships between LTPA and SBP/DBP were: SBP = 0.86 (0.85 to 0.87) for females and 0.65 (0.64 to 0.66) for males; DBP = 0.94 (0.92 to 0.95) for females and 0.64 (0.63 to 0.65) for males. Conclusion: The results of this study are important to public health and they must be used to raise awareness of the relevance of LTPA to prevent high levels of SBP/DBP. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2010; 95(4): 480-485)