PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AS DISCRIMINATOR OF THE ABSENCE OF HYPERTENSION IN ADULT MEN

Introduction: Several epidemiological studies show that physical activity reduces blood pressure but the amount needed to bring these benefits remains speculative. Objective: To analyze the amount duration and intensity) of physical activity in its different domains work, commuting, household activity and leisure time) as discriminator of the absence of hypertension in adult males. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in the city of Lauro de Freitas, Bahia, Brazil with sample of 220 males aged over 18 years. Several Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed which were compared to the areas between the amount of physical activity in their various domains and the absence of hypertension. For the amount of physical activity needed to prevent hypertension, sensitivity and specificity were also checked. The confidence interval of 95% was used. Results: Among the different domains of physical activity analyzed we found a greater statistical significance in the areas under the ROC curve for physical activity at work and leisure time. Hiking was not a good discriminator for the absence of hypertension in any of the domains analyzed. It was also observed that 180 minutes/week of moderate physical activity accumulated in the different domains was the best cutoff point for discriminating the absence of hypertension. Conclusion: The practice of physical activity, especially moderate intensity, lasting at least 180 minutes/week should be suggested for males to contribute to the prevention of hypertension.