Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Patients and Its Relation with Exercise and Exercise-related Behaviors: A Case-control Study

The effects of exercise interventions on blood pressure control in hypertensive patients have received extensive attention and recognition. However, the influence of exercise-related behaviors on the effects of blood pressure control and the management factors that affect exercise behaviors remain inconclusive. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationships between exercise and exercise-related behaviors and blood pressure control, expecting to provide a scientific basis for further improvement of exercise intervention programs for patients with hypertension.Long-term residents in a community in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China who were diagnosed with hypertension at a medical facility were recruited for this study. Hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure were placed in the case group, and those with controlled blood pressure were placed in the control group. The count data were analyzed with the χ test based on α = 0.05. A univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to screen significant variables; independent variables were selected based on professional knowledge and were tested for co-linearity. These variables were incorporated into a non-conditional multivariate logistic regression analysis to analyze relevant factors for blood pressure control, while calculating odds ratio (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and P values. Differences with a P < .05 were considered statistically significant.A total of 598 patients were included in the present study. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that exercise (OR = 0.194; 95%CI: 0.133-0.283), frequency of self-monitoring of blood pressure (OR = 2.412; 95%CI: 1.137-5.117), and regular housework (OR = 0.397, 95%CI: 0.248-0.633) were statistically significant factors for blood pressure control. In addition, there was a relationship between exercise-related behaviors and blood pressure control: walking (OR = 0.189, 95% CI: 0.065-0.551), 60 to 120 min/day of exercise time (OR = 0.317, 95% CI: 0.118-0.856). Sex (OR = 2.248, 95% CI: 1.279-3.954), health belief (OR = 0.016, 95% CI: 0.004-0.059), and company of a family member during exercise (OR = 0.048, 95% CI: 0.025-0.094) were significant factors predictive of regular exercise in hypertensive patients.Improving exercise-related behaviors and their management can help improve the effects of exercise interventions on blood pressure control in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients.