Background Assessment of the physical activity as a non-pharmacological cardiovascular risk reducing factor, during a prophylactic campaign „Ladies in Red”.
Material and methods 337 patients (201 women and 136 men), aged 18 to 87 were examined during prophylactic campaign „Ladies in red”. Patients were divided into two groups: (A) physically active (1h walking, swimming, cycling or aerobics at least once a week) - 186 patients and (B) physically inactive - 151 patients. Both groups were not significantly different in age [(A) 46 ± 17 yrs; (B) 45 ± 15 yrs; p = 0.5719] and in the level of systolic (SBP) [(A) 139 ± 21 mm Hg; (B) 136 ± 22 mm Hg; p = 0.2083)] as well as diastolic (DBP) [(A) 84 ± 12 mm Hg; (B) 83 ± 12 mm Hg; p = 0.4668)] blood pressure. Following measurements were taken during the campaign: blood pressure, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, adipose tissue content (ATC). Also the history of chest pain episodes was taken. The unpaired t-test, Welch’s corrected t-test, Chi-square test with Yate’s correction were used for the statistical analysis, linear (Pearson) correlation coefficient and determination coefficient were taken to analyze correlation and determination of statistically significant values.
Results We revealed statistically significant difference in the adipose tissue content between the two analyzed groups [(A) 28.1 ± 7.6%; (B) 30.8 ± 7,0%; p = 0.0009]. Besides positive correlation between waist circumference and adipose tissue content was observed (r = 0,1919; p = 0.0004). We also revealed statistically significant correlation between physical activity and the incidences of the chest pain [(A) 65 patients; (B) 79 patients; p = 0.002). Moreover statistically significant correlation between BMI value and the systolic (r = 0.2879; p < 0.0001) and diastolic (r = 0.3522; p < 0.0001) blood pressure and also between the ATC and the systolic (r = 0.1187; p = 0.0279) and diastolic (r = 0.1288; p = 0.017) blood pressure were observed.
Conclusions Physical activity has a significant influence on the adipose tissue content. Physically active patients had fewer episodes of chest pain than those, who were physically inactive. Patients who were thinner (lower BMI and ATC) had also lower values of SBP and DBP. Physical activity reduces ATC and chest pain episodes, what influences also the level of SBP and DBP. In this way physical activity can be interpreted as a cardiovascular risk reducing factor and an essential element of a healthy lifestyle.