Physical activity and incident hypertension in black and white adults: TheAtherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Background. The epidemiologic observation that physical activity reduces th e risk for hypertension has only keen made for white men who self-reported hypertension. This study examined physical activity and clinically determin ed incident hypertension in black rand white men and women of the Atheroscl erosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Methods. ARIC is a population-based prospective study with four U.S. clinic centers. The present analyses included 7,459 black and white adults 45-65 years of age. Hypertension (systolic/diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 mm Hg) was defined by blood pressure measured by a rando m-zero device or medication use. Physical activity was assessed with the Ba ecke questionnaire. Results. After adjustment for age, baseline blood pressure, ARIC center, ed ucation, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, parental history of hypertension , cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and diet, white men in the highes t quartile of leisure activity (primarily cycling and walking) had a 34% lo wer odds of developing hypertension over 6 years compared to the least acti ve (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.41-0.94; P for quartile trend = 0.01). Baseline a ctivity was not associated with incident hypertension in white women or bla cks. Conclusions. Leisure-time physical activity reduces the odds of hypertensio n in middle-aged white men. Additional studies in women and blacks are need ed. (C)1999 American Health Foundation and Academic Press.