Abstract
BACKGROUND: Evidence indicates that physical activity (PA) has a protective effect against chronic diseases, including high arterial hypertension (AH). OBJECTIVE: This study investigated, longitudinally, the association between changes in leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and the incidence of hypertension in ELSA-Brasil participants. METHODS: Data from 8,968 participants were analyzed at two different times (2008-2010 and 2012-2014). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), long version, was used to assess LTPA. The association between LTPA and AH was tested using Poisson regression with relative risk (RR) estimation, with a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: When the LTPA level variable was categorized as sufficient and insufficient, no statistically significant associations were found between LTPA and AH incidence as a function of changes in PA during follow-up. However, when the LTPA variable was categorized as inactive, little active, active, and very active, a statistically significant association was observed between LTPA and AH in participants classified as very physically active. The risk of AH was reduced by 35% among men RR 0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.86) and by 66% among women RR 0.34 (95% CI 0.20-0.58) who maintained high levels of LTPA at both moments of follow-up. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that maintaining high levels of PA over time is associated with a lower risk of developing AH, highlighting the importance of PA in preventing this condition, for both men and women.