A descriptive ranking of blood pressure and physical fitness of Latin–American ethnic schoolchildren

ABSTRACT

Background

There is a general lack of information about how insufficient physical activity impacts blood pressure and physical fitness in Latin-American ethnic minorities.

Aims

To describe the interactions between insufficient physical activity, blood pressure, and physical fitness outcomes in Latin-American schoolchildren of different ethnicity.

Methods

This was a prospective, international, multi-center, and cross-sectional study of three Latin-American countries involving schoolchildren from seven ethnic groups of Colombia (Tikuna, Nasa, Embera), Brazil (African, Mulato), and Chile (Mapuche), and also European schoolchildren from Brazil and Chile. Data were categorized based on whether participants were physically active (PA) or insufficient physical activity (iPA) using the WHO physical activity recommendations. The main outcomes were systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP), and mean arterial (MAP) blood pressure, and scores for physical and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF, by estimated $\dot{V}$O₂max), handgrip muscle strength (HGS), and standing long jump (SLJ). Secondary outcomes were anthropometric measures (weight, height, body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], waist-to-height ratio), and body fat percentage (BF%, limited data by country). Primary and secondary outcomes were ranked.

Results

For both PA and iPA categories, significant interactions between ethnic groups were found concerning SBP/DBP (F_(37.7), ES 0.08; F_(51.5), ES 0.08), $\dot{V}$O₂max (F_(37.7), ES 0.08; F_(51.5), ES 0.08), HGS (F_(33.8), ES 0.07; F_(5.03), ES 0.04), and SLJ (F_(64.3), ES 0.14; F_(64.3), 0.14). In the iPA category, Mapuche schoolchildren were classified 1st (119.5; 81.5) with highest SBP/DBP and highest MAP (94.6 mmHg); Embera schoolchildren were classified 1st with lowest $\dot{V}$O₂max (33.7 mL/kg/min); and European schoolchildren were classified 1st (19.9 kg) with lowest HGS and SLJ (121.4 m) physical fitness.

Conclusions

Under conditions of insufficient physical activity conditions, Mapuche schoolchildren had the most detrimental blood pressure, whereas Embera, Tikuna, and European schoolchildren had the lowest levels of physical fitness. These results serve to highlight the need for the early and appropriate promotion of physical activity based on ethnic differences in Latin-American schools.

KEYWORDS:

• Blood pressure
• Ethnicity
• Schoolchildren
• Physical fitness
• Cardiorespiratory fitness

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge (by country) all those persons who contribute to the study. From Colombia, the authors also thank the participating Bogota District students, teachers, schools, and staff. From Brazil, thanks to Professor Miria Suzana Burgos (in memoriam), for all your dedication to the ‘Schoolchildren's Health’ research, as well as all the support of the University of Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC). Many thanks to Professor Adroaldo Gaya – Head of Research Projeto Esporte Brasil. From Chile, many thanks to Mrs. Carmen Gloria Flores of the Family Healthcare Center Tomás Rojas, of Los Lagos city 2015, for her assistance in administrative matters between healthcare center and school, and thanks to those schools authorities from the Araucanía, Los Ríos, and Los Lagos region.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

The work described has not been published previously, it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere. The publication is approved by all authors. If accepted, it will not be published elsewhere in the same form, in English or in any other language, including electronically without the written consent of the copyright holder. All authors have approved the final article should be true and included in the disclosure.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, CA.; methodology, RR-V, GA; formal analysis, CA, PD-F.; investigation, CA, RR-V, GA, CP, DGD, HAC.; resources, CA, EC, RR-V, GA and CP.; data curation, CA, PD-F and CP; writing—original draft preparation, CA, EC, RR-V, GA, CP, AVB, JV-G., HAC, DGD., A.M.A.-M, and MI.; writing—review and editing, CA., PD-F, GA, CP., A.M.A.-M, and MI; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Novelty

• Insufficient physical activity promotes detrimental effects on blood pressure and physical fitness performance in Latin-American schoolchildren from ethnic minorities.

• Under an insufficient physical activity state, Mapuche schoolchildren had the most detrimental blood pressure, whereas Embera, Tikuna, and European peers had the lowest levels of physical fitness.

Additional information

Funding

This research was funded (by country), from Colombia (Robinson Ramírez-Vélez training grant [ID420] as a post-doctoral research fellow with the Universidad Pública de Navarra [UPNA], Spain). From Brazil, by the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico. CNpQ–for support the Projeto Esporte e Saúde na Escola n. 5489855723001982, and by the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination - Brazil (CAPES) - Financing Code 001. From Chile, this research was funded by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (DOCM 19/02/2020)], (ii) by the University de La Frontera, Chile Project DI18-0043, and by (iii) Universidad de Los Lagos (Cristian Alvarez). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.