Abstract
Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, whereas high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protect the cardiovascular system. Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility are well-established parameters to identify subclinical cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength on carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility in 697 children and adolescents (376 girls), aged 7-17 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness and strength were measured with the test battery FITNESSGRAM;carotid intima-media thickness, arterial compliance, elastic modulus, stiffness index beta, and pulse wave velocity beta were assessed by B- and M-mode ultrasound at the common carotid artery. In bivariate correlation, cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with all cardiovascular parameters and was an independent predictor in multivariate regression analysis. No significant associations were obtained for muscular strength. In a one-way variance analysis, very fit boys and girls (58 boys and 74 girls > 80th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness) had significantly decreased stiffness parameters (expressed in standard deviation scores) compared with low fit subjects (71 boys and 77 girls < 20th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness): elastic modulus -0.16 +/- 1.02 versus 0.19 +/- 1.17, p = 0.009;stiffness index beta -0.15 +/- 1.08 versus 0.16 +/- 1.1, p = 0.03;and pulse wave velocity beta -0.19 +/- 1.02 versus 0.19 +/- 1.14, p = 0.005. Cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with healthier arteries in children and adolescents. Comparison of very fit with unfit subjects revealed better distensibility parameters in very fit boys and girls.
Item Type: | Journal article |
---|---|
Faculties: | Medicine |
Subjects: | 600 Technology > 610 Medicine and health |
ISSN: | 1047-9511 |
Language: | English |
Item ID: | 55374 |
Date Deposited: | 14. Jun 2018, 09:59 |
Last Modified: | 04. Nov 2020, 13:35 |