Physical Activity, Lipid Profile and Other Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Africans: Results of the Vitaraa Study
Objective: To assess the relationship between the level of physical activity (PA), plasma lipids and other cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in an African adult population. Methods: Anthropometric data, blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma lipids were obtained in1, 292 persons aged ≥20 years (56.6% women) from an urban area in the Democratic Republic of Congo whose the level of PA was classified as low, moderateor high. Correlates of hypercholesterolemia were assessed. Results: The level of PA was low in 645 participants (49.9%), moderate in438 (33.9%), and high in 209 (16.2%). Men were more likely to practice high PA compared to women (27% vs. 7.7%; p<0.0001) as were younger participants (<30 years) compared to those above 60 years (20.8% vs. 5.6%; p<0.0001). Participants reporting high PA had lower body mass index, waist circumference, heart rate, total and LDL cholesterol; they also had lower prevalence of overweight/obesity, central obesity, and hypercholesterolemia.
