Association of sedentary time with blood pressure in women of reproductive age

Stephanie M Spehar; Bethany Barone Gibbs; Matthew Muldoon; Janet M Catov

doi:10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101219

Association of sedentary time with blood pressure in women of reproductive age

Prev Med Rep. 2020 Oct 9:20:101219. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101219. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Stephanie M Spehar¹, Bethany Barone Gibbs², Matthew Muldoon³, Janet M Catov⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States.
² Department of Health and Physical Activity, School of Education, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
³ Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine and Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.

Abstract

While the beneficial impact of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on blood pressure is well-understood, the relationship between sedentary time (ST) and blood pressure is less clear. We aimed to evaluate the associations between ST and BP in reproductive-age women. This cross-sectional analysis consisted of 431 women enrolled in the Placenta as a Window to Maternal Microvascular Disease Risk study at Magee-Womens Hospital. Blood pressure and self-reported physical activity and ST were collected 8-10 years after delivery at study enrollment. Logistic and linear regression models examined associations between ST and blood pressure and adjusted for MVPA. Women with the highest amount of ST were less likely to be normotensive and more likely to have elevated blood pressure and Stage II hypertension (p = 0.02). Each additional hour of ST was associated with an increased risk of Stage II hypertension (OR 1.12 [1.01-1.24]) and higher systolic blood pressure (0.45 mmHg [0.08-0.82]), diastolic blood pressure (0.29 mmHg [0.02-0.56]), and mean arterial pressure (0.34 mmHg [0.05-0.63]), after adjustment for covariates. This relationship was more apparent in women who participated in less MVPA (bottom 50th percentile) versus more MVPA (top 50th percentile). ST is associated with higher blood pressure, particularly in women who engage in less aerobic activity, and could serve as an important intervention target for reducing blood pressure and hypertension during the reproductive years.

Keywords: BMI; Blood pressure; Cardiovascular disease risk factors; Hypertension; Lifestyle interventions; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior; Women.