No association between the frequency of forest walking and blood pressure levels or the prevalence of hypertension in a cross-sectional study of a Japanese population

Table 1 Characteristics of participants by frequency of forest walking

Frequency of forest walking	Once a week or more		Two or three times per month		Once a month		Less than once a month		Total	p value
Frequency of forest walking	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	%	n	p value
Total	235	5.0	274	5.9	394	8.4	3,763	80.6	4,666
Sex
Men	164	5.2	210	6.6	270	8.5	2,530	79.7	3,174	p = 0.013^*
Women	71	4.8	64	4.3	124	8.3	1,233	82.6	1,492	p = 0.013^*
Age (mean ± SD)
Men	57.3 ± 7.8		56.8 ± 8.1		54.7 ± 8.4		51.7 ± 8.6		52.6 ± 8.7	Trend p < 0.001^†
Women	55.5 ± 7.4		53.7 ± 8.4		53.7 ± 8.9		50.4 ± 8.5		51.0 ± 8.6	Trend p < 0.001^†
BMI^a ≥ 25.0
Men	39	23.8	52	24.8	62	23.0	662	26.2		Trend p = 0.31^‡
Women	8	11.3	13	20.3	18	14.5	202	16.4		Trend p = 0.51^‡
Alcohol consumption^b
Men	126	77.3	158	76.0	179	66.8	1,666	66.2		Trend p < 0.001^‡
Women	18	26.1	16	25.0	42	34.1	325	26.5		Trend p = 0.76^‡
Current smokers^c
Men	35	21.3	33	15.7	47	17.5	631	25.0		Trend p = 0.002^‡
Women	2	2.8	2	3.1	7	5.7	54	4.4		Trend p = 0.59^‡
Habitual exercise^d
Men	129	79.1	144	68.6	167	62.1	1,207	48.1		Trend p < 0.001^‡
Women	54	77.1	45	75.0	80	66.1	530	43.5		Trend p < 0.001^‡

* Chi-squared test; ^† linear regression model; ^‡ Mantel–Haenszel chi-squared test
^aBody mass index; number of available responses was 4,665 (men: n = 3,173, women: n = 1,492)
^bOnce a week or more; number of available responses was 4,636 (men: n = 3,155, women: n = 1,481)
^cNumber of available responses was 4,657 (men: n = 3,170, women: n = 1,487)
^dLeisure time activity (≥30 min exercise at least once a week); Number of available responses was 4,618 (men: n = 3,149, women: n = 1,469)

ISSN: 1347-4715