Evaluation of the association of physical activity levels with self-perceived health, depression, and anxiety in Spanish individuals with high cholesterol levels: a retrospective cross-sectional study
Ángel Denche-Zamorano,
Jofre Pisà-Canyelles,
Sabina Barrios-Fernández,
Antonio Castillo-Paredes,
Raquel Pastor-Cisneros,
Maria Mendoza-Muñoz,
Diana Salas Gómez,
Cristina Mendoza Holgado
Affiliations
Ángel Denche-Zamorano
Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Jofre Pisà-Canyelles
Health, Economy, Motricity and Education Research Group (HEME), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Sabina Barrios-Fernández
Occupation, Participation, Sustainability and Quality of Life (Ability Research Group), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Antonio Castillo-Paredes
Grupo AFySE, Investigación en Actividad Física y Salud Escolar, Escuela de Pedagogía en Educación Física, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Las Americas, Santiago, Chile
Raquel Pastor-Cisneros
Promoting a Healthy Society Research Group (PHeSO), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Maria Mendoza-Muñoz
Research Group on Physical and Health Literacy and Health-Related Quality of Life (PHYQOL), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Diana Salas Gómez
Escuelas Universitarias Gimbernat (EUG), Physiotherapy School Cantabria, Movement Analysis Laboratory, Universidad de Cantabria, Torrelavega, Spain
Cristina Mendoza Holgado
Occupation, Participation, Sustainability and Quality of Life (Ability Research Group), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
Background Hypercholesterolemia is the most common form of dyslipidaemia in the world leading to negative health effects, both physical and mental. Physical activity (PA) can reduce total cholesterol and has positive effects on mental health. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyses the relationships between physical activity level (PAL), self-perceived health (SPH) and mental health. Methods This study was based on data from the Spanish National Health Survey 2017 (SNHS 2017), with 3,176 Spanish adults with high cholesterol as participants. Non-parametric tests were used as the data did not follow normality. Results Dependent relationships were found between PAL and SPH, depression and anxiety. Women had higher depression and anxiety prevalences than men, while men were more likely to report being very active, although the proportion of walkers was higher in women. The physically inactive population presented higher negative SPH, depression and anxiety proportions and psychological distress than physically active people. Conclusion The physically inactive people had a higher risk of negative SPH, depression and anxiety. Regular PA may improve SPH and mental health in people with high cholesterol, but more studies are needed to establish causal relationships, mechanisms, and optimal doses.