Differential of physical activities and its association with hypertension and diabetes in Myanmar

Background: Myanmar has been facing a high and growing burden of NCDs. Since regular physical activity has been recognized as one of the effective strategies in prevention and control of NCDs, promotion of physically active lifestyle might help in combatting a number of NCDs. This study was conducted to assess the sociodemographic differentials of physical activity and to identify the association between the insufficient physical activity and occurrence of hypertension and diabetes using data extracted from Myanmar STEP-2014-data. Methods: This study was further data analysis on 2014 STEP survey and included (5791) 40-64-year-aged participants, a subsample of STEP survey. Binary logistic regression with clustered robust standard error method was applied to estimate the effect of insufficient physical activity on occurrence of hypertension and diabetes. Results: The findings revealed that 17.5% [95%CI: 16.5%, 18.5%] of participants had the insufficient physical activity, 41.9% [95%CI: 40.6%, 43.2%] had raised blood pressure and 16.9% [95%CI: 15.9%, 17.9%] had raised blood glucose. After adjusting other covariates, the significant association between insufficient physical activity and raised blood pressure was not found; whereas insufficient physical activity was significantly contributed to occurrence of raised blood glucose. Conclusions: The present study highlighted the importance of physical activity in occurrence of raised blood glucose. The proportions of insufficient physical activity, raised blood pressure and raised blood glucose were observed as a rising pattern with increasing in age. Community-based health promotion program targeted at promoting physically active lifestyle should be adapted to interventions that are appropriate to different age structures.