Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hypertension is becoming more common worldwide, with a significant portion of the adult population affected and expected to grow substantially in the coming decades. Physical activity is widely recognized as an essential non-pharmacological intervention for managing hypertension. However, there remains controversy regarding the optimal intensity of physical activity, particularly for aged with hypertension. METHODS: Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018) were analyzed, including 5,461 hypertensive participants aged 65 and older. Participants were categorized into three groups based on their physical activity levels: sedentary, moderate, and vigorous. Mortality rates, including all-cause, cardiovascular, and cardio-cerebrovascular mortality, were compared across these groups using multivariate logistic regression models, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: The study included 5,461 hypertensive participants with a mean age of 74.36 years, split almost evenly by gender. The sedentary group had the highest mean age (74.76 years), while the vigorous activity group was the youngest (72.64 years). The majority (59.85%) were non-Hispanic White, and nearly half (49.86%) had lower incomes. Mortality rates were highest in the sedentary group (37.63% all-cause, 11.01% cardiovascular, 13.19% cardio-cerebrovascular). The vigorous activity group showed no significant reduction in mortality compared to the moderate activity group. CONCLUSIONS: Vigorous physical activity does not confer additional mortality benefits over moderate physical activity in older hypertensive patients and may even pose risks in certain subgroups. These findings suggest that moderate physical activity may be more appropriate for this population, emphasizing the need for individualized exercise recommendations.