Reduced cardiovascular risk is associated with aerobic fitness in university students

Abstract

The aims of this study were to assess the physical activity and aerobic fitness of a group of university students (n=399) and to evaluate their risk for cardiovascular disease. Leisure-time physical activity, body composition, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and maximal oxygen uptake () were assessed. During leisure time, the majority (53.5%) of female students were found to be sedentary, while the majority of male students (49.6%) were found to be active (P<0.001). Active students, both males (P<0.05) and females (P<0.05), had higher absolute and relative values than their sedentary counterparts. No statistically significant differences were found in anthropometric or blood pressure values according to the different physical activity classification levels. In contrast, relative was negatively associated with percentage body fat (males: P<0.01; females: P<0.01) and body mass index (males: P<0.01; females: P<0.01). We also found a negative association between relative and systolic (males: P<0.05; females: P<0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (males: P<0.01; females: P<0.01). The present results indicate that poor physical fitness, evaluated in terms of relative , is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in university students. This is a cause for concern, especially for male studentsp, since their aerobic capacity was found to be rather low.

Keywords:

• Health
• exercise
• physical fitness
• university students
• anthropometry
• aerobic capacity

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the Vicerrectorado of Organización Académica of the University of the Basque Country and their students for their cooperation. This study was carried out with no external financial support.