Hollingworth, M; Harper, A; Hamer, M; (2015) Dose-response associations between cycling activity and risk of hypertension in regular cyclists: The UK Cycling for Health Study. Journal of Human Hypertension , 29 pp. 219-223. 10.1038/jhh.2014.89.

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Abstract

Most population studies on physical activity and health have involved largely inactive men and women, thus making it difficult to infer if health benefits occur at exercise levels above the current minimum guidelines. The aim was to examine associations between cycling volume and classical cardiovascular risk markers, including hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, in a population sample of habitual cyclists. A nationwide sample comprising 6,949 men and women (aged 47.6 yrs on average) completed questions about their cycling levels, demographics and health. Nearly the entire sample (96.3%) achieved the current minimum physical activity recommendation through cycling alone. There was a dose-response association between cycling volume and risk of diagnosed hypertension (p-trend =0.001), with odds ratios of 0.98 (95% CI, 0.80 – 1.21), 0.86 (0.70, 1.06), 0.67 (95% CI, 0.53 – 0.83) across categories of 23 – 40, 40 – 61, and >61 MET-hr/wk compared with <23 MET-hr/wk. These associations persisted in models adjusted for age, sex, smoking, alcohol, BMI, and other moderate to vigorous physical activities. We also observed inverse associations between cycling volume and other risk factors including BMI and hypercholesterolemia. In summary, results from a population sample of cyclists suggest that additional cardiovascular health benefits can be achieved beyond the current minimum physical activity recommendation.

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