Relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and latitude in children and adolescents: Results from a cross-sectional survey in China.

BACKGROUND

This study assessed the correlation between latitude and the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of children and adolescents.

METHODS

In 16 provinces and autonomous regions in China, 25,941 children and adolescents aged 10-18 were included. CRF was measured using the 20 m shuttle run test (20 m SRT) and estimated peak oxygen uptake (VO). One-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis were used to explore the correlation between CRF and latitude in children and adolescents.

RESULTS

The VO values of the low (south), middle, and high (north) latitude groups for boys were 43.1, 43.1, and 40.7 mL/kg/min, respectively, and 40.0, 40.0, and 38.5 mL/kg/min for girls, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the regression coefficients (β) between VO-Z and both latitude-Z and (latitude-Z) for boys were -0.151 and -0.043, respectively. For girls, they were -0.142 and -0.020, respectively. The Partial correlation coefficient () for latitude-Z and (latitude-Z) were -0.14 and -0.04 for boys, and -0.13 and -0.02 for girls, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The CRF among children and adolescents in high latitude regions is significantly lower than that in middle and low latitude region, and it generally shows a "parabolic" trend between Latitude-Z and VO-Z.