Physical activity and psychological status of hypertensive and healthy individuals: in the era of COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background/Introduction Hypertension is an important and common reason of cardiovascular diseases. Hypertension can prevent, delay and/or manage with lifestyle modifications like regular physical activity participiation, stress management. During COVID-19 pandemic physical inactivity, increased stress and anxiety levels impair disease management of hypertensive individuals and becomes a serious risk factor for healthy individuals. Purpose We aimed to investigate and compare physical activity, anxiety and depression level of hypertensive and healthy individuals. Methods Forty hypertensive and forty healthy individuals were included in the study (Mean age: 51,15±6,96 years and 49,75±8,41 years, respectively). Patients informed about the study and invited during their cardiology visit and called by a physiotherapist in lockdown periods. In phone call, working status, quarantina compliance, sociodemographic status were asked. Physical activity levels were assessed with International Physical Activity Questionnnaire-Long Version (IPAQ), anxiety and depression levels were examined with Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD). Patients categorized as inactive, minimally active and active according to METs results of IPAQ and classified as increased depression and/or anxiety according to HAD results. Results Working status, quarantina compliance and gender were similar between groups (p>0,05). Anxiety and depression scores were similar but number of people who had increased depression were higher in hypertensive group. Considering physical activity, transport, vigorous domestic activities, leisure time vigorous activities and total physical activity levels were statistically different between groups (p<0,01, p=0,002, p=0,002,respectively) and hypertensive individuals were less active. When we compared physical activity categorization, in hypertensive group 12,5% were active, 47,5% were minimally active and 40% were sedentary and in healthy group 32,5% were active, 50% were minimally active and 17,5% were sedentary and physical activity status were statistically significant (p=0,029). Conclusion(s) According to our results, hypertensives were more inactive and deprressed than healthy controls. Quarantine periods become very inactive periods for all populations but this is very crucial for especially risky populations. To prevent upcoming cardiovascular diseases and complications of hypertension physical activity and psychosocial support can implement by healthcare providers.