G-38 Free Communication/Poster - Occupational and Environmental Physiology

Abstract

Among all the modalities of active transportation, bicycling is especially attractive once it is spatially and financially economical, and it allows integration with other transportation modes. In addition to being accessible for all ages, it is ideal for short and medium distances. Bicycling has been studied worldwide, and it appears to present a beneficial relationship with several public health problems. However, most evidence about the bike use and health parameters were investigated in high-income countries, which present distinct realities from those observed in Brazilian cities. PURPOSE: To investigate the association between bicycle use for transportation with hypertension, type II diabetes, heart problems and obesity in adults. METHODS: Population-based study with a sample of 1588 adults living in Rio Claro city - SP - Brazil. To evaluate bicycle use for transportation, a question regarding frequency and time of use of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used. To assess the presence or absence of hypertension, diabetes II and heart problems a specific questionnaire was used. Obesity was classified according to the Body Mass Index (>30 kg/m2), calculated by self-reported weight and height. To investigate the association between bicycle use (≥ 10 min/week) and independent variables (hypertension, type II diabetes, heart problems and obesity) a binary logistic regression was performed, adjusted according to age and sex. Values are expressed in Odds Ratio (OR) and confidence intervals of 95%. For all statistical analysis SPSS 17.0 was used. RESULTS: Bicycle users presented lower odds for hypertension (OR= 0.59; CI=0.43-0.82) and obesity (OR=0.72; 0.52-1.00), although the latter association being borderline. For type II diabetes (OR=0.96; 0.49-1.90) and heart problems (OR=0.79; 0.44-1.40) no significant association with bicycle use was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Bicycle use for transportation showed to be associated with lower prevalence of hypertension and obesity. However, it was not associated with type II diabetes and heart problems.