Average blood pressure: does the use of stairs matter?

Abstract

Objective: To determine if the daily use of stairs is related to values of mean arterial pressure, in a group of inhabitants of a residential complex with 4-floor buildings. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Blood pressure was taken in 125 healthy individuals (50.4% women) living in the 4 floors of each of the 4 buildings of a residential complex. The values of mean arterial pressure were compared according to the residence floor by means of the one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests, and the analysis was stratified according to age, sex, obesity, smoking, frequent alcohol drinking and physical activity. Results: A significant relationship was found (p <0.05) between the mean arterial pressure average and the residence floor, the differences being marked especially between floors one and four (p <0.05). Statistical significance was found (p <0.05) when stratifying mean arterial pressure
values according to male sex, abdominal obesity and smoking. Conclusion: In healthy adults participants in the study, there was a beneficial effect in the daily use of stairs with respect to the values of mean arterial pressure.