OBJECTIVE: To analyze in a large sample of sedentary adults the possible association between arterial hypertension and decreased physical fitness, and increased general and central obesity. METHODS: The sample was composed by 1,092 (429 male and 663 female) Brazilian sedentary adults. Blood pressure was assessed and arterial hypertension was diagnosed. Three cardiovascular risk factors were considered: general obesity (body mass index), central obesity (waist circumference) and decreased physical fitness (submaximal bicycle ergometer test). RESULTS: Arterial hypertension rate was 9.3% (95% CI = 7.6 - 11.2). There was association between higher occurrence of arterial hypertension and the diagnosis of obesity (p=0.001), elevated values of WC (p = 0.001) and reduced values of VO2max (p = 0.013). Independently of gender and age, sedentary individuals with simultaneous decreased physical fitness plus general (PR=5.21 [95% CI = 8.94-3.03]; p=0.001) and central (PR = 4.05 [95% CI = 2.22-7.40]; p = 0.001) obesity presented higher likelihood to have arterial hypertension than sedentary individuals with none cardiovascular risk factor. CONCLUSION: Sedentary adults, independently of both gender and age, the presence of low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with increased occurrence of arterial hypertension only when there is either increased central or general adiposity indicating that the interaction of these variables have relevant burden in the genesis of the disease.
risk factors; physical fitness; obesity; adult
