Physical activity, arterial hypertension and waist circumference in men from Warmia and Masuria region in Poland

Introduction. Regular physical activity is a recognized method of non-pharmacological prevention many chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of physical activity and abdominal obesity in 631 randomly selected men from Warmia and Masuria region in Poland.

Material and methods. 631 men from the Warmia and Mazury region in age of 19–82 years (47.2 } 13.7 years) were examined between Dec 2014 and Dec 2016. Participants completed standardized questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements were performed. BP was measured. In serum of 398 participants glucose and lipidogram were measured. Analyses were performed separately for three groups depending on time of physical activity in week: ACT+ (meet WHO physical activity recommendations ≥ 150 min/week), ACT+/- (do not meet WHO recommendations < 150 min/week and ≥ 50 min/week) and ACT — (do sport occasionally or never). Two groups were performed depending on the BP: AHT+ (SBP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg or antihypertensive therapy) and AHT — (BP values < 140/90 mmHg and no antihypertensive therapy).

Results. ACT-, ACT+/- and ACT+ accounted respectively for 53%, 24% and 23%, AHT+ for 55.6% and men with waist circumference ≥ 94 cm for 63.9% of studied population. In ACT- increased BP was measured more frequently in comparison with ACT+. In ACT+ waist circumference, DBP and HR were lower and PP was higher in comparison to ACT-. Laboratory tests results did not differ between all three groups of respondents. It was observed that group of participants with waist circumference < 94 cm had lower values of blood pressure parameters in comparison to participants with waist circumference ≥ 94 cm.

Conclusions. Only 1 out of 4 men in Warmia and Masuria region in Poland meets the WHO physical activity recommendations, 64% of them have abdominal obesity and more than a half had measured increased values of arterial blood pressure. These findings reveal increased risk of CVD and mortality among men in Warmia and Masuria region comparing to population of Poland and Europe.

Arterial Hypertens. 2017, vol. 21, no. 3, pages: 140–147 DOI: 10.5603/AH.2017.0019