Relationships Between Diurnal Blood Pressure Variation, Physical Activity, and Health‐Related QOL

Abstract

The aim of this study is to clarify the associations between diurnal blood pressure variation, physical activity and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). Ninety‐seven volunteers, including 52 hypertensive patients and 45 healthy subjects (average age, 48 years) participated in this study. Twenty‐four hour ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate variability were measured using TM2425 (A&D Co). Physical activity was measured using actigraphy, and HRQOL was assessed by a Medical Outcome Study Short‐Forum 36‐Item Health Survey (SF‐36). Awake mean physical activity positively correlated with the nocturnal dip in systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.242, p < 0.02) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.219, p < 0.04). The score of physical functioning positively correlated with awake mean physical activity (r = 0.265, p < 0.02). The score of role‐emotional also correlated with awake mean physical activity (r = 0.269, p = 0.01). Using multiple regression analysis, the nocturnal dip in SBP was found to be correlated with awake and sleep mean physical activities (p < 0.05, p < 0.05, respectively). In conclusion, physical activity is associated with the nocturnal dip in blood pressure. Moreover, physical activity correlates with some of the factors of HRQOL.

• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• Physical activity
• Quality of life
• SF‐36