Physical activity adaptation towards control of selected noncommunicable diseases-A detailed part of large community trial in rural areas of India

OBJECTIVES: The primary aim of this study was to assess the impact of systematically induced health education on physical activity over control of hypertension, diabetes. The secondary aim of this study was to assess the changed pattern of physical activity among hypertensives and diabetics with continuous follow-up. METHODS: This is part of a larger study A community trial in coastal Karnataka with three villages where one village was introduced with physical activity alone. A total of 105 participants who are known hypertensives with SBP more than 130 mm Hg or DBP more than 90 mm Hg and diabetics with Hb1Ac more than 7% were included. A specific module for physical activity was prepared, introduced to participants with involvement of family members, followed up for 1 year, and survey was done. The outcomes of median SBP, DBP, and RBS with Physical activity introduction as compared to baseline were done. Statistical analysis––Median, Interquartile range, and Wilcoxon sign rank test––was used. RESULTS: There was 9–15 mm Hg change before and after intervention reduction in SBP and DBP. The median RBS reduced from 264 mg/dL to 205 mg/dL. Moderate activities time markedly increased & sitting hours decreased to half. CONCLUSION: There is an impact of systematically induced health education on physical activity over control of hypertension and diabetes & change in the pattern of physical activity with continuous health education module and follow-up.