Sedentary behaviors and the risk of incident hypertension: the SUN Cohort.
BACKGROUND
Scientific evidence from different sources suggests a positive association between sedentary behaviors and the incidence of hypertension. However, no previous prospective study corroborated this potential relationship in an adult population. Our objective was to assess prospectively the association of different sedentary behaviors (interactive and noninteractive sedentary activity, television viewing, and sleeping) with the incidence of hypertension.


METHODS
In this prospective, dynamic cohort study (the SUN Study), 11,837 Spanish university graduates, with a mean age of 36 years, were followed for an average of 40 months, from 1999 to 2006. Sedentary behavior was assessed with a questionnaire at baseline, and the incidence of hypertension was assessed with validated, biennial questionnaires.


RESULTS
We identified 291 new cases of hypertension among 6742 participants who remained after excluding those with self-reported hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer at baseline. Self-reported total sedentary behavior was directly associated with a higher risk of hypertension (hazard ratio, 1.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 2.18, comparing those in the upper and lower quartiles; P for trend = .03). In subtype analyses, interactive sedentary behavior (driving and computer use), but not noninteractive sedentary behavior (television viewing and sleeping), was associated with a higher risk of hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
Interactive sedentary behaviors appear to be an independent risk factor for incident hypertension. Noninteractive sedentary behaviors (television viewing and sleeping) did not show a significant association with incident hypertension.
Beunza
Juan José
JJ
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Clínica Universitaria, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain. jjbeunza@unav.es
Martínez-González
Miguel Angel
MA
Ebrahim
Shah
S
Bes-Rastrollo
Maira
M
Núñez
Jorge
J
Martínez
José Alfredo
JA
Alonso
Alvaro
A
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013690:Television