Sedentary Behavior and Light Physical Activity Are Associated with Brachial and Central Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients.

Lars B Andersen,David Ohara,Karen M Tordjman,Breno Q Farah,Aline M Gerage,Tania R B Benedetti,Raphael M Ritti-Dias,Fábio Da S Santana

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0146078

Abstract

BackgroundPhysical activity is recommended as a part of a comprehensive lifestyle approach in the treatment of hypertension, but there is a lack of data about the relationship between different intensities of physical activity and cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time spent in physical activities of different intensities and blood pressure levels, arterial stiffness and autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 87 hypertensive patients (57.5 ± 9.9 years of age) had their physical activity assessed over a 7 day period using an accelerometer and the time spent in sedentary activities, light physical activities, moderate physical activities and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities was obtained. The primary outcomes were brachial and central blood pressure. Arterial stiffness parameters (augmentation index and pulse wave velocity) and cardiac autonomic modulation (sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation in the heart) were also obtained as secondary outcomes.ResultsSedentary activities and light physical activities were positively and inversely associated, respectively, with brachial systolic (r = 0.56; P < 0.01), central systolic (r = 0.51; P < 0.05), brachial diastolic (r = 0.45; P < 0.01) and central diastolic (r = 0.42; P < 0.05) blood pressures, after adjustment for sex, age, trunk fat, number of antihypertensive drugs, accelerometer wear time and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. Arterial stiffness parameters and cardiac autonomic modulation were not associated with the time spent in sedentary activities and in light physical activities (P > 0.05).ConclusionLower time spent in sedentary activities and higher time spent in light physical activities are associated with lower blood pressure, without affecting arterial stiffness and cardiac autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients.

Highlights

Hypertension affects 30 to 45% of adults worldwide[1], and has been associated with stroke, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases[2], being responsible for approximately 13% of all deaths worldwide[3].As part of a comprehensive lifestyle modification approach, hypertensive patients are advised to practice at least 30 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on five to seven days per week[1, 4, 5]
In this cross-sectional study, 87 hypertensive patients (57.5 ± 9.9 years of age) had their physical activity assessed over a 7 day period using an accelerometer and the time spent in sedentary activities, light physical activities, moderate physical activities and moderate-tovigorous physical activities was obtained
Lower time spent in sedentary activities and higher time spent in light physical activities are associated with lower blood pressure, without affecting arterial stiffness and cardiac autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients

Summary

Introduction

Hypertension affects 30 to 45% of adults worldwide[1], and has been associated with stroke, ischemic heart disease and other cardiovascular diseases[2], being responsible for approximately 13% of all deaths worldwide[3].As part of a comprehensive lifestyle modification approach, hypertensive patients are advised to practice at least 30 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on five to seven days per week[1, 4, 5]. Studies have shown controversial results on the influence of the time spent doing MVPA, light physical activities (LPA) and sedentary activities (SED) on cardiovascular health[12,13,14,15,16]. The single study[14] that analyzed hypertensive subjects observed that lower time spent in SED and higher time spent in LPA are associated with lower BP and arterial stiffness indicators, suggesting that different physical activity intensities have the potential to affect cardiovascular parameters in hypertensive patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the time spent in physical activities of different intensities and blood pressure levels, arterial stiffness and autonomic modulation in hypertensive patients

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Conclusion