Relationship between Habitual Physical Activities and Hypertension in Bengali Male Adolescents

Background: High blood pressure during childhood and adolescence increases the risk of hypertension (HTN) in adulthood. Physical activity (PA) is considered as key component for the prevention and treatment of HTN. `Thus the aim of our study was to assess the relation between habitual physical activity and prevalence of HTN among male adolescents.

Methods: The present cross sectional school-based study was conducted among male students aged 12-18 years. Height, weight and blood pressure were recorded. Information on the frequency and duration of habitual PA and sedentary activities in 24 hours was obtained from self-administered questionnaire. Total activity score were calculated by weighing the activity level. Results are described as mean values + standard deviations. Habitual PA and prevalence of HTN were evaluated using bivariate logistic regression analysis. The significance level of the tests were considered at a level of 0.05.

Results: Duration of cycling, total duration of moderate activities and 24 hour total activity score was significantly higher whereas duration of very light activity and sleeping significantly lower in hypertensive group than non-hypertensive counter-part. SBP significantly positively correlated with duration of cycling, total duration of moderate activities and very light activities and negatively correlated with duration of sleep and other moderate activities except cycling. On the other hand DBP was significantly and negatively correlated with sleeping duration. Very light activities and daily sleeping duration more than 10 hours caused an increase of the prevalence of HTN. Daily 1-2 hour moderate PA reduces but long duration increases the prevalence of HTN.

Conclusion: Regular habitual PA with moderate duration, restriction of very light activities and optimum sleep should be practiced in everyday life to avoid increased BP level.