Background: Elevated blood pressure and dyslipidemia are risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases (NCD) and is responsible for 41 million deaths (71%) each year. Physical activity (PA) is believed to be a key factor in the prevention and management of hypertension as it reduces the risk of dyslipidemia and the consequences of prehypertension.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of physical activity on lipid levels in individuals with prehypertension and examine the association between physical activity and the Framingham risk score (FRS).

Method: Individuals of different ages (25–40 years), gender, socioeconomic class, and professions were randomly selected from the general population. After assessing the IPAQ and monitoring BMI and BP (for three consecutive days) in 140 volunteers, a total of 80 prehypertensive subjects were identified. The lipid profiles were measured using a commercial diagnostic kit.

Results: The study population was divided into three groups based on IPAQ score: low PA (n = 38, 48%), moderate PA (n = 28, 35%), and high PA (n = 14, 18%). Overweight and obese prehypertensive individuals accounted for 71% (n=64) and 6% (n=5) of the population, respectively. PA, BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels were significantly associated in the bivariate analysis (p0.005, p0.001). It has been demonstrated that a lack of PA elevates BP, TC, LDL, and TG. Participants with dyslipidemia and high blood pressure were more likely to develop heart disease based on their FRS scores.

Conclusion: According to this study, increased PA lowered the risk of prehypertension developing into hypertension. Regular PA (moderate to vigorous) also improves cardiovascular health by reducing BP and cholesterol levels, as well as promoting positive physiological changes, such as stimulating the heart arteries to expand more easily and boosting metabolic responses.

Keywords:   Physical activity, CVD, FRS, Dyslipidemia, Prehypertension, IPAQ.