Physical Activity as a Risk Factor for Hypertension and Target Hypertensive Eye Damage in Two Ethnic Groups in Macedonia

Abstract Introduction. Hypertension is one of the most common chronic, noncommunicable diseases, and it is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease incidence. Lifestyle modifications are most important in HTA management, and physical activity (PA) is crucial among them. It is very difficult to give general recommendation for intensity and duration of the PA, because of the needs to make complete patient evaluation before PA is advised. The general recommendation in most of the national guidelines is to start with moderate PA, 40 min/per day, several times a week. The objectives of our study were: comparison of the physical activity, as a risk factor for hypertension in two ethnic groups in Macedonia, and comparison of the intensity of the target eye damage in the hypertensive subjects in two ethnic communities in Macedonia. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional study with hypertensive Roma patients as a target group, and an equal number of subjects of Macedonian nationality as controls. For both groups we completed a questionnaire where we evaluated the PA. The target eye damage was analyzed according to the Keith-Wagener-Barker categorisation. Results. Hypertensive patients exercised significantly less, or had no physical activity compared with the controls. Conclusions. Physical inactivity is a potential risk for HTA in Roma population. This is a possible cause for the early development, and more severe stage of HTA in Roma ethnic groups, and more intensive target eye damage caused by HTA.