Authors

Hamid Najafipour(1), Mansoor Moazenzadeh(2), Mahdi Afshari(3), Hamid Reza Nasr(2),Mohammad Khaksari(4), Afsaneh Forood(2), Ali Mirzazadeh(5)

Affiliations

Physiology Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

  • 1- Professor, Cardiovascular Research Center AND Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences,
    Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
    2- Associate Professor, Physiology Research Center AND Department of Cardiology, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman
    University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
    3- Assistant Professor, School of Public Health, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
    4- Professor, Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center AND Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology
    Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
    5- Assistant Professor, Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The low physical activity (LPA) more or less affects every community. Because
of high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases in Iran and their relationship with LPA, this study
aimed to measure precisely the epidemic size of LPA and determine its relationship with six
other coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors among an urban population aged 15 to 75 years
in Kerman, Iran.
METHODS: Using household survey, 5895 adults were randomly recruited through single-stage
cluster sampling from 250 postal codes. Demographic characteristics, blood pressure, blood
glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride, smoking, opium use, mental status and physical activities at
work, rest and recreation were assessed and ranked as low, moderate and intense. Adjusted
odds ratio (AOR) was reported as a measure of the relationship between LPA and other CAD
risk factors.
RESULTS: The prevalence of low, moderate, and intense physical activity were 42.1%
(40.3-43.9), 45.0% (43.6-47.4) and 12.4% (11.1-13.9), respectively. LPA showed a sudden rise
from 36.8% to 45.4% after the age of 25 years. On average, women had less physical activity
than men (45.1% vs. 39.2%, P = 0.01). Participants with low physical activity compared to those
without physical activity had significantly higher chance of anxiety [odds ratio 1.39; confidence
interval (95% CI) 1.08-1.79; P = 0.01], hypertension (1.59; 1.08-2.35; P = 0.02), hypercholesterolemia (1.37; 1.06-1.76; P = 0.02), cigarette smoking (1.52; 1.07-2.11; P = 0.01), opium
addiction (1.47; 1.07-2.02; P = 0.02) and overweight/obesity (1.34; 1.05-1.71; P = 0.02).
CONCLUSION: LPA was very common in the studied population and almost half of the adults
were at risk for CAD because of insufficient level of physical activity. Such risky life-style pattern
makes the emerging of CAD epidemic unavoidable, if effective interventions not being in place
timely to this community.
Keywords: Physical Activity, Coronary Artery Disease, Urban Population, Kerman, Iran