Association of physical activity with blood pressure in African ancestry men

This study tested the association of objectively measured physical activity with blood pressure and hypertension in African Caribbean men, an understudied population segment known to be at high-risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) which has low levels of high-exertion physical activity. Men (N = 310) were from the Tobago Health Study and aged 50-89 years. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were measured using an automated device, and hypertension was defined as SBP ≥ 140 mmHg, DBP ≥ 90 mmHg, or current use of antihypertensive medication. Physical activity was measured using the SenseWear Pro armband (SWA) and consisted of daily time engaged in sedentary behavior (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate to vigorous activity (MVPA), as well as daily step count. Multiple regression analyses using the isotemporal substitution framework were used to test for associations between activity and blood pressures. Models were adjusted in stages for SWA wear time, age, antihypertensive medication use, alcohol consumption, smoking, diabetes, CVD, family history of hypertension, salt intake, and adiposity. Replacement of SB with LPA was associated with lower SBP adjusted for wear time (β = -0.84, p < 0.05), but attenuated after adjustment for age. Replacement of SB with LPA was associated with lower DBP (β = -0.50) and lower odds of hypertension (OR = 0.88), adjusted for wear time and age (both p < 0.05). All model associations of replacement of SB with LPA were stronger when restricted to men not taking antihypertensive medications, regardless of their hypertension status. These results support the strategy of increasing light physical activity for blood pressure management in high-risk Afro-Caribbean men.