Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers

<p><strong>Background</strong> Although the benefit of physical activity on cardiovascular health has been well demonstrated, being physically active can be difficult for health care workers. Active commuting such as walking or cycling may be a good way to promote physical activity...

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Main Authors: Lerssrimongkol, C, Wisetborisut, A, Angkurawaranon, C, Jiraporncharoen, W, Lam, KBH
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2016
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author Lerssrimongkol, C
Wisetborisut, A
Angkurawaranon, C
Jiraporncharoen, W
Lam, KBH
author_facet Lerssrimongkol, C
Wisetborisut, A
Angkurawaranon, C
Jiraporncharoen, W
Lam, KBH
author_sort Lerssrimongkol, C
collection OXFORD
description <p><strong>Background</strong> Although the benefit of physical activity on cardiovascular health has been well demonstrated, being physically active can be difficult for health care workers. Active commuting such as walking or cycling may be a good way to promote physical activity.</p> <p><strong>Aims</strong> To investigate the relationship between active commuting and cardiovascular disease risk factors in health care workers.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong> A cross-sectional study of health care workers conducted in Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand. Information on demographics and lifestyle, including active commuting, was obtained from questionnaires. Results were analysed with multiple logistic regression, adjusting for other physical activity and possible confounders.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong> Among 3204 participants, fewer than half engaged in active commuting. After adjustment for poss ible confounders, low active commuting was associated with increased risk of hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–1.7]. High active commuting was associated with central obesity (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.8). Compared with non-active commuters, younger active commuters (aged under 40) had reduced prevalence of hypertension (aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–1.0), while older active commuters (aged 40 or over) demonstrated increased hypertension (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.3) and central obesity (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.1).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong> We found conflicting evidence on the relationship between active commuting and cardiovascular risk factors. Reverse causation may explain the association between active commuting and hypertension and central obesity and should be investigated further.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:418539ca-25d8-40e4-801c-c9249d0b2a142023-05-11T10:21:01ZActive commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workersJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:418539ca-25d8-40e4-801c-c9249d0b2a14EnglishSymplectic Elements at OxfordOxford University Press2016Lerssrimongkol, CWisetborisut, AAngkurawaranon, CJiraporncharoen, WLam, KBH<p><strong>Background</strong> Although the benefit of physical activity on cardiovascular health has been well demonstrated, being physically active can be difficult for health care workers. Active commuting such as walking or cycling may be a good way to promote physical activity.</p> <p><strong>Aims</strong> To investigate the relationship between active commuting and cardiovascular disease risk factors in health care workers.</p> <p><strong>Methods</strong> A cross-sectional study of health care workers conducted in Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand. Information on demographics and lifestyle, including active commuting, was obtained from questionnaires. Results were analysed with multiple logistic regression, adjusting for other physical activity and possible confounders.</p> <p><strong>Results</strong> Among 3204 participants, fewer than half engaged in active commuting. After adjustment for poss ible confounders, low active commuting was associated with increased risk of hypertension [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–1.7]. High active commuting was associated with central obesity (aOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0–1.8). Compared with non-active commuters, younger active commuters (aged under 40) had reduced prevalence of hypertension (aOR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–1.0), while older active commuters (aged 40 or over) demonstrated increased hypertension (aOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1–2.3) and central obesity (aOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1–2.1).</p> <p><strong>Conclusions</strong> We found conflicting evidence on the relationship between active commuting and cardiovascular risk factors. Reverse causation may explain the association between active commuting and hypertension and central obesity and should be investigated further.</p>
spellingShingle Lerssrimongkol, C
Wisetborisut, A
Angkurawaranon, C
Jiraporncharoen, W
Lam, KBH
Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
title Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
title_full Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
title_fullStr Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
title_full_unstemmed Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
title_short Active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
title_sort active commuting and cardiovascular risk among health care workers
work_keys_str_mv AT lerssrimongkolc activecommutingandcardiovascularriskamonghealthcareworkers
AT wisetborisuta activecommutingandcardiovascularriskamonghealthcareworkers
AT angkurawaranonc activecommutingandcardiovascularriskamonghealthcareworkers
AT jiraporncharoenw activecommutingandcardiovascularriskamonghealthcareworkers
AT lamkbh activecommutingandcardiovascularriskamonghealthcareworkers