IJCS | Volume 31, Nº6, November / December 2018

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20180064 594 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2018;31(6)594-602 Mailing Address: José Fernando Vilela-Martin Av. Anisio Haddad, 7700, Casa: 129. Postal Code: 15093-000, Jardim das Palmeiras, São José do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil. E-mail: vilelamartin@cardiol.br , vilelamartin@uol.com.br Prevalence of Physical Inactivity and its Effects on Blood Pressure and Metabolic Parameters in a Brazilian Urban Population Geiza da Graça Leite Rissardi, 1 José Paulo Cipullo, 1 Gisela Cipullo Moreira, 1 Luiz Alberto Souza Ciorlia, 1 Cláudia Bernardi Cesarino, 1 Luiz Tadeu Giollo Junior, 1 Angelina Zanesco, 2 José Fernando Vilela-Martin 1 Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP), 1 São José do Rio Preto, SP - Brazil Universidade do Estado de São Paulo (UNESP), 2 Rio Claro, SP - Brazil Manuscript received June 29, 2017, revised manuscript June 13, 2018, accepted June 18, 2018. Abstract Background: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the world and physical inactivity represents an important risk factor. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of physical inactivity in the adult population and its effects on blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid profile. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study with stratified simple random sampling was conducted in 1,717 adults divided by age groups: 18-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and ≥ 70 years. The participants answered the physical activity questionnaire and were classified as physically active or inactive. The bootstrap statistical method was used to assess physical activity, associated with lipid profile and blood glucose levels. The level of significance was 5%. Results: The prevalence of physical inactivity in the general populationwas 65.8%. There was a significant difference in the group older than 70 years. There was a significant decrease in physical activity in the group with lower educational level, with a significant difference between social classes AB and C. The prevalence of hypertension was 27.5% among physically inactive and 21.4% among active individuals (p = 0.04). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 26.1% in inactive and 16.7% in the active individuals (p = 0.007). Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides levels were more elevated in the physically inactive group, which was not observed with high-density lipoprotein levels. Blood glucose was also higher in the inactive group. Conclusion: This study shows a high prevalence of physical inactivity and a positive correlation between risk factors for cardiovascular disease, mainly blood pressure, glucose and lipids profiles. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2018;31(6)594-602) Keywords: Exercise; Diabetes Mellitus; Hypertension; Metabolic Syndrome; Risk Assessment. Introduction Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in high and low-income countries. In the last decades, CVD accounted, on average, for 30% of all deaths in Brazil. 1 A large number of cardiovascular events can be attributed to several risk factors, particularly physical inactivity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity is the fourth- leading risk factor for global death, responsible for 3.2 million deaths annually, including an estimated 670,000 early deaths (people aged < 60 years). 2 Individuals who are insufficiently active have a 20% to 30% increased risk of all-cause mortality when compared to people who practice at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. 2 It is estimated that physical inactivity accounts for 6% to 10% of the world’s burden of chronic diseases. 3 Several studies have shown an inverse association between the practice of regular exercise and the