Leisure Time Physical Activity and Incidence of Arterial Hypertension in ELSA-Brasil Participants

Evidence indicates that physical activity (PA) has a protective effect against chronic diseases, including high arterial hypertension (AH).

This study investigated, longitudinally, the association between changes in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and the incidence of hypertension in ELSA-Brasil participants.

Data from 8,968 participants were analyzed at two different times (2008-2010 and 2012-2014). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), long version, was used to assess LTPA. The association between LTPA and AH was tested using Poisson regression with relative risk (RR) estimation, with a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval.

When the LTPA level variable was categorized as sufficient and insufficient, no statistically significant associations were found between LTPA and AH incidence as a function of changes in PA during follow-up. However, when the LTPA variable was categorized as inactive, little active, active, and very active, a statistically significant association was observed between LTPA and AH in participants classified as very physically active. The risk of AH was reduced by 35% among men RR 0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.86) and by 66% among women RR 0.34 (95% CI 0.20-0.58) who maintained high levels of LTPA at both moments of follow-up.

These results suggest that maintaining high levels of PA over time is associated with a lower risk of developing AH, highlighting the importance of PA in preventing this condition, for both men and women.