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
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.