title: Physical activity and pattern of blood pressure in postmenopausal women with hypertension in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hormonal changes during menopause have been attributed to hypertension-a common public health concern. This study investigated physical activity (PA) and pattern of blood pressure (BP) in postmenopausal women newly diagnosed with hypertension and referred for treatment at the medicine outpatient clinic of a tertiary health facility in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. It compared BP pattern and adiposity variables [body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR)] between two PA groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 220 participants in this cross-sectional survey after obtaining their informed consent. International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess PA level, while a 16-item questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic and clinical profiles of the women. BP, BMI and WHR were assessed using standard measurement procedures. Descriptive statistics of mean ± standard deviation were used for data summarization and independent t-test was used to compare variables between low level and moderate to vigorous level PA groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' mean values include: age 61.6 ± 8.5 years, years since menopause 12.75± 8.15, BMI 28.63±4.99kg/m(2), WHR 1.11±0.08, SBP and DBP 145.9±17.9; 93.7±11.4 mmHg respectively. Mean values of SBP, DBP, BMI and WHR were higher among participants with low PA compared to those with moderate to vigorous even though the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Involvement in moderate to vigorous physical activities among menopausal women in Nigeria should be encouraged. This may reduce hypertension and adiposity with a possible control of cardiovascular disease risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omoyemi O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Ogwumike
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Ade F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Adeniyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Bukayo T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Dosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Arinola O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Sanya
authors.affiliation: Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Kehinde O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Awolola
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: Adiposity; Blood Pressure; Hypertension; Physical Activity; Postmenopausal