Abstract

Background: The prevalence of essential hypertension (EHTN) is quite low in individuals who perform more body activities and exercise as opposed to those who spend a sedentary lifestyle. Regular physical activity reduces the risk of obesity, adverse lipid profile, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many studies are carried out globally to assess the prevalence of EHTN related to grades of physical activity and lifestyle patterns but fewer studies are been conducted for the desert areas. The present study was conducted at the Tharparkar desert characterized by shortness of rainfall and dry weather, which might affect sodium and water balance in the body and eventually blood pressure. Objectives: To study the association of physical activity, nature of job, and exercise with prevalence of EHTN in the people living in the Tharparkar desert.
Materials and Methods: A randomized, descriptive population-based study was carried out in the Tharparkar desert, Pakistan. After getting approval from ethics review committee of the Aga Khan University, a total of 563 participants were selected randomly (295 males, 268 females) in 2012 from the Tharparkar desert, Pakistan. We recorded demographic and anthropometric data, levels of blood pressure, levels of daytime and on job physical activities, and exercise. Statistical analysis of the prevalence of EHTN and its association with various grades of physical activity in relation to the sedentary and active occupation and with exercise was carried out. Data were analyzed descriptively and categorically by using SPSS-21 for comparing the prevalence of EHTN with increased and decreased physical activities, exercise, and job with sedentary versus active lifestyle. The p-values of < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.
Results: After getting approval from the ethics review committee, the mean age and prevalence of EHTN among the studied 563 participants from Tharparkar desert were assessed and found to be 37 (±16.4 years, range 10–82 years) and 81 (14.4%), respectively. Participants leading a sedentary lifestyle showed higher prevalence of EHTN (19.2%) than those leading an active lifestyle (1.9%). Participants having job with mild physical activity had higher prevalence of EHTN (19.4%) than those having jobs with active lifestyle (2.9%); p-values were <0.001 in both cases. The analysis of data for participants not doing exercise and prevalence of EHTN did not show statistically significant p-value (i.e., 0.57). Conclusion: It is concluded that in the Tharparkar desert, mild physical activity and jobs with sedentary lifestyle were significantly associated with the prevalence of EHTN. The comparison of participants doing versus not-doing exercise showed nonsignificant results because of the small sample size of those responding positive for exercise.