Risk of Hypertension and Use of Antihypertensive Drugs in the Physically Active Population under-70 Years Old—Spanish Health Survey

INTRODUCTION: Reducing the prevalence of hypertension is a major priority of the World Health Organization (WHO). Its high prevalence and associated risks generate high economic and social costs. Physical activity (PA) is associated with a decrease in hypertension and in the use of antihypertensive drugs. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between PA levels (PAL), prevalence of hypertension and the use of antihypertensive drugs in Spanish population. To calculate risks of hypertension and use of antihypertensive in the inactive versus physically active population. METHOD: This cross-sectional study used data from 17717 individuals, sampled in the 2017 National Health Survey. Interaction by sex, age groups, body mass index (BMI), hypertension prevalence, antihypertensive drugs use and PAL, using a pairwise z-test, and dependence relationships between variables, were studied using a chi square test. Odds ratios of hypertension and antihypertensive drug use were calculated among the inactive and the physically active populations. RESULTS: The findings showed a significant inverse association between prevalence of hypertension, antihypertensive use, and PAL in both sexes and different age and BMI groups, with lower prevalence of hypertension and antihypertensive use when PAL were higher. The risks of hypertension and antihypertensive use seems to be reduced when related to higher PAL compared to inactive people. CONCLUSIONS: High PAL is associated with lower prevalence of hypertension and lower antihypertensive use. Thus, being physically active or very active may reduce the risks of suffering from hypertension and the need to use antihypertensives compared to inactive people or walkers.