239004 Association between leisure-time physical activity and hypertension among adults from the 26 state capitals and Federal District of Brazil (VIGITEL, 2008)

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Lilian Perez, MPH, BA , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Eduardo J. Simoes, MD, MSc, MPH , Prevention Research Center Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Lenildo de Moura , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Deborah Malta , Coordination of Non Communicable Diseases, Brazilian Ministry of Health, Brasília/DF, Brazil
Michael Pratt, MD, MPH , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Introduction: Physical inactivity is an important risk factor for hypertension. The association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and hypertension has not been well examined by sex and bodyweight, strong predictors of hypertension, in a Latin American context.

Methods: The study population included data from adult respondents (≥ 18 years) of the 2008 Brazilian telephone-based surveillance system for risk and protective factors for chronic diseases, VIGITEL (N = 54,353). We defined LTPA as practicing light/moderate PA at least 30 minutes/day in ≥ 5 days/week or vigorous PA for 20 minutes/day at least 3 times/week in the past 3 months during leisure-time. We analyzed the association between LTPA and diagnosed hypertension by overweight status (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) and sex and obtained adjusted odds ratios (OR) using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: The hypertension prevalence was higher for women (26%) than men (21%) and overweight people (34%) than under/normal-weight people (15%). People who practiced LTPA were 0.8 times less likely to have hypertension. After adjusting for other potential confounders, LTPA and hypertension were not associated. Under/normal-weight males showed the strongest association (OR = 0.63, 95% CI 0.456-0.869), while females showed weak positive associations (overweight OR = 1.12, 95% CI 0.862-1.451; under/normal-weight OR = 1.09, 95% CI 0.831-1.423).

Conclusions: The association of LTPA and hypertension among Brazilian adults is modified by sex but not bodyweight. These findings suggest LTPA may be protective against hypertension in men. Inclusion of transport and household PA in the analysis may be necessary to fully understand this complex relationship.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Evaluate the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and diagnosed hypertension among a nationally representative sample of Brazilian adults according to sex and overweight status. 2. Describe the diagnosed hypertension prevalence among adults residing in the 26 state capitals and Federal District of Brazil based on national surveillance data from 2008. 3. Discuss future potential analyses to explain the complex relationship between physical activity and diagnosed hypertension.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Data/Surveillance

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I analyze large complex datasets from surveillance systems for monitoring behaviors associated with non-communicable chronic diseases.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Promotion of Physical Activity among Adults
See more of: Physical Activity