Abstract Body: Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is an established protective factor for managing conditions such as hypertension (HT) and hyperlipidemia (HL). Existing research highlights the importance of lifestyle modifications, particularly for high-risk populations such as people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). People with T2D have an elevated risk of HT and HL, yet few studies have examined their associations with PA. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the associations between HT, HL, and PA among people with T2D.
Hypothesis: Adults with T2D from the 2022–2024 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were included. Participants self-reported diagnoses of HT and HL, as well as PA levels (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity [MVPA]) and frequency of resistance training (RT). Participants were classified as meeting PA guidelines if they reported ≥150 minutes of MVPA per week and meeting RT guidelines if they reported RT ≥2 times per week. Binary logistic regression models accounting for survey weights were conducted separately for HT and HL with each of the different PA variables.
Results: Among 4,600 participants with T2D, the mean age was 63.7 years, mean diabetes duration was 14.1 years, and 27.2% reported insulin use. Overall, 74.0% had HT and 66.5% had HL. Average MVPA was 173.0 minutes per week, and average RT frequency was 0.7 times per week; 28.7% met the PA guideline and 15.7% met the RT guideline. No significant associations were observed between PA and HT (p > .05). However, meeting the PA guideline (OR = 0.83, 95% CI [0.70, 0.98]) and the RT guideline (OR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.65, 0.98]) were associated with lower odds of HL. Additionally, greater RT frequency was associated with lower odds of HL (OR = 0.95, 95% CI [0.91, 0.99]).
Conclusion: While no associations were found between PA and HT, engaging in PA, particularly RT, was associated with lower odds of HL among people with T2D. Since HT and HL are closely related, reducing cholesterol through PA can help lower blood pressure reducing lipid build up in the arteries. Encouraging PA participation, including RT, may be beneficial for managing HL in this population. Further research is needed to examine the impact of PA and RT on HT in people with T2D.