title: Association of physical activity with blood pressure and blood glucose among Malaysian adults: a population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The health-enhancing benefits of physical activity (PA) on hypertension and diabetes have been well documented for decades. This study aimed to determine the association of PA with systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as blood glucose in the Malaysian adult population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were extracted from the 2011 National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS), a nationally representative, cross-sectional study. A two-stage stratified sampling method was used to select a representative sample of 18,231 Malaysian adults aged 18 years and above. The PA levels of the respondents were categorised as low, moderate or high according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)-short form. Blood pressure and fasting blood glucose levels were measured using a digital blood pressure-measuring device and finger-prick test, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Systolic blood pressure (SBP) level was positively associated with PA level (p = 0.02) whilst no significant association was noted between PA level and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). In contrast, respondents with low (adjusted coefficient = 0.17) or moderate (adjusted coefficient = 0.03) level of PA had significantly higher blood glucose level as compared to those who were highly active (p = 0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant negative association was observed between PA level and blood glucose only. Future studies should employ an objective measurement in estimating PA level in order to elucidate the actual relationship between PA, hypertension and diabetes for the development of effective interventions to combat the increasing burden of premature-mortality and cardiovascular disease-related morbidity in Malaysia.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, 50588, Malaysia. chienhuey@imr.gov.my.
authors.forename: Chien Huey
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Teh
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. chan.yy@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Ying Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. limkh@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Kuang Hock
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, 50588, Malaysia. kee@imr.gov.my.
authors.forename: Chee Cheong
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Kee
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. limkk@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Kuang Kuay
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. yeops@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Pei Sien
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. drazahadi@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Omar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Azahadi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. fadhli_my@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Yusoff
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fadhli
authors.affiliation: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, 50590, Malaysia. tahir.a@moh.gov.my.
authors.forename: Aris
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, 50588, Malaysia. leehl@imr.gov.my.
authors.forename: Han Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, 50588, Malaysia. nazni@imr.gov.my.
authors.forename: Wasi Ahmad
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Nazni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose