Physical Activity, Blood Pressure, and Community Dining Sites: a Cohort Study of Older Black Adults Who Participate in the Congregate Meal Program.

Objective: Hypertension especially systolic hypertension is common in older adulthood and disproportionately affects Black adults. Physical activity (PA) contributes to improved blood pressure (BP) and cardiovascular health. However, opportunities for PA for older adults are often limited.

Methods: We used a prospective observational design and data collected fall 2022 (time-1) and spring 2023 (time-2) from Black adults (n = 177) ≥ 60 years-of-age participating in the congregate meal program at community dining sites in Washington DC. Sites included senior centers, park/recreation facilities, and public housing. Measured height/weight/BP and a self-report survey were collected, with PA measured using the 9-item Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity, validated for use in older adults. Chi-square tests compared participant's PA levels by dining site. Hierarchical, repeated-measures linear regression was used to examine the association between PA at time-1 and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at time-2.

Results: Most participants were female (78%), lived alone (72%), with 52% reporting ≤ high school education. Mean (SD) age was 75 (8) years. Mean (SD) SBP was 138 (20) mm Hg. Mean (SD) diastolic BP was 70 (11) mm Hg. Most (75%) self-reported hypertension. PA varied by dining site, with lowest rates reported by participants at public housing sites (p < 0.001). PA was inversely related to SBP (Beta -1.01; 95% CI -1.94, -0.09; p = 0.03).

Conclusions: Study findings support the benefit of PA to lower SBP among an older Black adult population and suggest increasing PA programming at community dining sites may be one strategy to improve PA and cardiovascular health. Further study is warranted.