Moderate and Vigorous Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in West Germany, 1984–1991

Abstract

The relationship between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors was analysed based on data of three cross-sectional National Health Surveys, carried out in West Germany between 1984 and 1991. A total of 7663 males and 7722 females, aged 25–69 years, were examined. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess LTPA which was defined as the mean duration of time (in minutes) spent during the past week on 14 specified sports during the previous 3 months. The mean time for LTPA per week was 102 minutes for males and 70 minutes for females. No significant differences were observed in LTPA mean duration for the three surveys. Younger age and higher social class were strong predictors for greater LTPA. In multiple linear regression models, after adjustment for age and social class, LTPA was significantly associated with lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure (both sexes), total cholesterol (males only), cigarette smoking (males only) and body mass index (females only), and with higher HDL-cholesterol (both sexes). The data suggest that LTPA plays an important role if aiming at reducing CVD risk factors in the general population.