Chronic diseases in adults promotes reduction of the level of physical activity

Abstract

Type of study:  Prevalence study. Objective: To describe the occurrence of diseases in hypertensive and/or diabetic patients, users of Basic Health Unit (BHU) and to associate the occurrence of both diseaseswith physical activity. Methods: Cross-sectional study involving 222 patients with hypertension and/ordiabetes mellitus, of both sexes and users of two BHU from Bauru, Brazil. Clinical records of the patientswere analyzed to detect the presence of diseases, body weight and height were measured to determinenutritional status, as well as, a questionnaire assessed the physical activity level. Chi-square test identified associations and the binary logistic regression expressed the magnitude of these associations.Significant was set at p < 0.05. Results: The sample had more women (64%), obese (42.3%) andsedentary persons (78.8%). The most frequent diseases among the patients were hypercholesterolemia(31.5%), arthritis / arthrosis (23.8%) and low back pain (23.8%). There was significant association between leisure physical activity (intensity, weekly practice and prior engagement) and lower occurrence ofmetabolic diseases. Independent of confounders, diabetic and diabetics with hypertension had increasedlikelihood to be sedentary. Conclusion: The results suggest that the onset of hypertension and / ordiabetic co-morbidity is associated with high rates of physical inactivity and, consequently, an increasednumber of co-morbidities.