[Association between transtheoretical model and physical activity in patients with hypertension]

To identify the association between the transtheoretical model (TTM) and physical activity (PA) carried out in free time in patients with arterial hypertension in the central region of Mexico.

Comparative cross-sectional study. SITE: The study was carried out in the Family Medicine Unit No.1 (UFM1) of the Mexican Social Security Institute in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Four hundred thirty-five adults aged 40 to 70 with arterial hypertension who attended the outpatient clinic at UFM1 were included.

The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Stages of Change algorithm from the TTM were applied.

A descriptive, bivariate analysis and ordinal logistic regression were performed to evaluate the association between TTM stages and PA.

As patients progress through the stages of change, their weekly PA increased. Individuals in the action, maintenance and consolidation stages were significantly more likely to perform higher levels of exercise: 20 times more likely in the action stage with an ordinal odds ratio (OR) of 20.07 (CI95%: 10,52-38,25), 24 times more in the maintenance stage with OR 24 (CI95%: 12,79-47,63) and 40 times more in the consolidation stage with OR 40,35 (IC95%: 19,25-84,59).

The strong association between the stages of change and PA reveals the importance of applying the TTM to achieve success in programs to promote healthy habits by designing strategies that suit each subject.