Abstract P124: Leisure Time Physical Activity and Cardio-metabolic Health: Results from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil)

Abstract

Context: Physical inactivity and cardio-metabolic diseases are increasingly prevalent in Brazil, and preventive guidelines are urgently needed for physical activity (PA) promotion in Brazilian populations. Objective: To investigate the association between leisure time PA and cardio-metabolic health in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data from 11,547 women and men aged 35-74 free of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in the ELSA-Brasil. Data on PA was obtained using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Physical activity status was defined according to the American Heart Association’s recommendation (at least 150 minutes/ week moderate activities or 75 minutes/week vigorous activities). Multivariable linear/logistic regression models were used to examine the sex-specific associations of leisure time PA with intermediate cardio-metabolic markers (systolic/dialectic blood pressure (SBP/DBP), heart frequency, and Framingham Risk Scores) and cardio-metabolic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, and predicted 10-year risk of CVD). We also conducted two sets of sensitivity analyses using 1) an alternative definition of PA (PA-related energy expenditure ≥ 1000 kilocalories/week) and 2) additional adjustment for education and income. Results: In total, 1,183 women and 1,387 men were classified as active. After taking into account multiple covariates, the favorable effects of leisure time PA on cardio-metabolic parameters were evident for both women and men (Table) . These associations did not change appreciably when the alternative definition of PA was used or additional socioeconomic variables were taken into account. Conclusion: We observed significant beneficial effects of leisure time PA on cardio-metabolic health in this large Brazilian population that are consistent with studies in high-income countries of North America and Europe.