PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, FITNESS, AND SELECTED RISK-FACTORS FOR CHD IN ACTIVE MEN AND WOMEN

Citation
Am. Bovens et al., PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY, FITNESS, AND SELECTED RISK-FACTORS FOR CHD IN ACTIVE MEN AND WOMEN, Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 25(5), 1993, pp. 572-576
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Sport Sciences
ISSN journal
01959131
Volume
25
Issue
5
Year of publication
1993
Pages
572 - 576
Database
ISI
SICI code
0195-9131(1993)25:5<572:PFASRF>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
The association of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness with r isk factors such as blood pressure, body composition, and smoking habi ts was evaluated in middle-aged men and women-active in sports. Data w ere available for 2009 men and 898 women, all volunteers over 40 yr of age who were active in sports, were available. Physical activity was recorded as sport activity (number and type of sport, frequency, and d uration), occupational activity, and the use of the bicycle for transp ort. Cardiovascular fitness was expressed as maximal power output (Wma x . kg-1) achieved during a progressive maximal cycle ergometer test. Pearson's product moment correlations between cardiovascular fitness a nd risk factors indicated significantly lower risks among more fit ind ividuals. Except for smoking habits all risk factors showed better ass ociations with fitness in women than in men. The association of physic al activity indicators and risk factors was less strong than the fitne ss-risk factor association in both genders. In both genders, joggers h ad the most favorable risk profile compared with subjects who were act ive in one of the other four most popular sports. We conclude that in this relatively active and healthy population comparable associations of physical activity and cardiovascular fitness with risk factors for cardiovascular disease were found as in studies on less active populat ions.