Background
High blood pressure is the leading stroke risk factor. Data on the association of physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption and dietary sodium with hypertension are lacking in Hispanic communities. In the current report we provide data on the association of changes in these stroke behavioral risk factors with blood pressure change.
Methods
Participants were recruited from participating Catholic churches in Nueces County, Texas. Blood pressure was measured, and self-reported validated scales of fruit and vegetable consumption, dietary sodium and physical activity were collected at baseline and 12 months. Linear mixed models were used to examine the associations between tertiles of improvement in the three behavior outcomes with blood pressure change, adjusted for demographic characteristics. The association of the binary measure of at least 5 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure or 10 mm Hg systolic blood pressure reduction and behavior change was estimated with multilevel logistic regression models.
Results
Of 586 participants, 66% were female, 82% Mexican American, and mean age was 54 years. High compared with low change in physical activity was significantly associated with diastolic blood pressure change (p=0.022), and high compared with low change in fruit and vegetable intake was significantly associated with systolic blood pressure change (p= 0.032). For the binary changes in diastolic blood pressure or systolic blood pressure there was a borderline association of physical activity (p=0.054); all other variables were not associated (p>0.10).
Conclusions
Physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption are potential stroke prevention targets in predominantly Mexican American populations.