Summary and application of the WHO 2020 physical activity guidelines for patients with essential hypertension in primary care

Apichai Wattanapisit; Chirk Jenn Ng; Chaisiri Angkurawaranon; Sanhapan Wattanapisit; Sirawee Chaovalit; Mark Stoutenberg

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11259

Summary and application of the WHO 2020 physical activity guidelines for patients with essential hypertension in primary care

Heliyon. 2022 Oct 25;8(10):e11259. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11259. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Authors

Apichai Wattanapisit^{1

2}, Chirk Jenn Ng^{3

4

5}, Chaisiri Angkurawaranon^{6

7}, Sanhapan Wattanapisit⁸, Sirawee Chaovalit⁹, Mark Stoutenberg¹⁰

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
² Family Medicine Clinic, Walailak University Hospital, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
³ Department of Primary Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
⁴ SingHealth Polyclinics, Singapore, Singapore.
⁵ Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
⁶ Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
⁷ Global Health and Chronic Conditions Research Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
⁸ Family Medicine Unit, Thasala Hospital, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand.
⁹ Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand.
¹⁰ Department of Kinesiology, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA.

Abstract

The new World Health Organization (WHO) 2020 guidelines on physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior include recommendations for adults with chronic conditions. The guidelines provide adaptable and general recommendations for people living with chronic medical conditions. This article summarizes the content and provides suggestions for the application of the guidelines for patients with essential hypertension in primary care. The WHO 2020 PA guidelines recommend broad advice for adults and older adults with chronic conditions. The key recommendations are consistent with other hypertension guidelines. A systemic approach to promote PA in primary care (i.e., PA assessment, safety considerations, PA prescription, behavioral counseling, and referral) along with applying the WHO guidelines is required. Health risk assessment and safety issues related to hypertension (e.g., current PA levels, level of blood pressure, treatment plans, comorbidities) should be concerned. The FITT Pro (frequency, intensity, time, type, and progression) can be adopted as a framework to break down the guidelines into specific PA prescription. The WHO 2020 PA guidelines address the importance of PA in clinical populations. The guidelines can be adapted for patients with hypertension in primary care settings.

Keywords: Exercise; Hypertension; Physical activity; Primary care; Sedentary behavior.

Publication types

Review