Abstract
Background. The epidemiologic observation that physical activity reduces the risk for hypertension has only been made for white men who self-reported hypertension. This study examined physical activity and clinically determined incident hypertension in black and white men and women of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Methods. ARIC is a population-based prospective study with four U.S. clinic centers. The present analyses included 7,459 black and white adults 45-65 years of age. Hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg) was defined by blood pressure measured by a random-zero device or medication use. Physical activity was assessed with the Baecke questionnaire. Results. After adjustment for age, baseline blood pressure, ARIC center, education, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, parental history of hypertension, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and diet, white men in the highest quartile of leisure activity (primarily cycling and walking) had a 34% lower odds of developing hypertension over 6 years compared to the least active (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47-0.94; P for quartile trend = 0.01). Baseline activity was not associated with incident hypertension in white women or blacks. Conclusions. Leisure-time physical activity reduces the odds of hypertension in middle- aged white men. Additional studies in women and blacks are needed.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 304-312 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Preventive Medicine |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 1999 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:1The ARIC Study was funded by Contracts N01-HC-55015, N01-HC-55016, N01-HC-55018, N01-HC-55019, N01-HC-55020, N01-HC-55021, and N01-HC-55022 from the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. M.A.P. was funded by Training Grant No. T32 HL07036 from the National Institutes of Health.
Keywords
- Blood pressure
- Epidemiology
- Exercise
- Hypertension
- Prospective study
- Race
- Sex
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health