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Association of leisure-time physical activity with perceived general health status among hypertensive people: an analysis of NHANES 2015–18

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 36, pages 280–288 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

Although leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) improves general health, little is known about its impacts on the health of hypertensive people within the United States. We investigated the general health of hypertensive people and the relationship between LTPA and general health within this population. This cross-sectional study analyzed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015–18 data. None, some, and high LTPA were defined as ‘0’, ‘>0 but <150’, and ‘≥150’ minutes of LTPA in each week, respectively. Hypertension was defined as the systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg or taking BP-lowering drugs. General health status was dichotomized as whether participants reported ‘very good to excellent’ health status or not. After descriptive analysis, logistic regression was performed. Among 8504 participants (48.6% male and mean age: 48.2 years), about 47.9%, 41.4%, and 39.5% of people had hypertension, ‘very good to excellent’ health, and high LTPA, respectively. The odds of ‘very good to excellent’ health was lower among hypertensives than those without hypertension (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.6–0.8, p < 0.001). Among hypertensive individuals, about one-third reported ‘very good to excellent’ health (33.1%) and high LTPA (32.0%). Lastly, compared to people with no LTPA, those with some (AOR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.0–2.0, p < 0.05) and high (AOR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.7–3.0, p < 0.001) LTPA had greater odds of ‘very good to excellent’ health. We found positive relationships between LTPA and ‘very good to excellent’ health of hypertensive people. Therefore, improving general health could be an added advantage of LTPA for hypertensive people.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank all survey participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria & Reese Crispen

  2. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA

    Rajat Das Gupta

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  1. Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria
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Contributions

Conception and design by: GK. Analysis and interpretation of the data by: GK, RC, RDG. Drafting of the article by: GK, RC. Critical revision of the article for important intellectual content by: RC, RDG. Final approval of the article by: GK, RC, RDG. Statistical Analysis by: GK.

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Correspondence to Gulam Muhammed Al Kibria.

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Kibria, G.M.A., Das Gupta, R. & Crispen, R. Association of leisure-time physical activity with perceived general health status among hypertensive people: an analysis of NHANES 2015–18. J Hum Hypertens 36, 280–288 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-021-00518-3

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