[Inverse association of cardiorespiratory fitness with cardiovascular risk factors in Chilean adults].

BACKGROUND

A high level of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is an important protector against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

AIM

To explore the association of CRF with several metabolic markers and estimate the variation of these parameters by an increase of 1 MET change in CRF.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 447 adults (56% women) without medical history of cardiometabolic diseases. Physical activity evaluated using accelerometry, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, blood glucose and insulin and lipid profile were measured. HOMA-IR was calculated with fasting glucose and insulin levels. The submaximal Chester Step Test was used to measure CRF.

RESULTS

CRF was significantly associated with the level and intensity of physical activity, and all metabolic markers (p-trend < 0.05), except with diastolic blood pressure. It was estimated that 1-MET increase in CRF is associated with waist circumference (β -0.32 cm), fat mass (β -0.22%), insulin (β -0.67 pmol.l-1), HOMA-IR (β -0.17) and HDL cholesterol (β +1.46 mg.dl-1). All these associations were independent of main covariates such as age, sex, education, smoking and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of CRF is inversely associated with several metabolic markers that are risk factors for cardiovascular disease.