Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, and adiposity with arterial stiffness in children

Abstract

Associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior, and body fat percentage (BF%) with arterial stiffness and dilation capacity were investigated in 160 prepubertal children (83 girls) 6-8 years of age. We assessed CRF (watts/lean mass) by maximal cycle ergometer exercise test, total PA, structured exercise, unstructured PA, commuting to and from school, recess PA and total and screen-based sedentary behavior by questionnaire, BF% using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and arterial stiffness and dilation capacity using pulse contour analysis. Data were adjusted for sex and age. Poorer CRF (standardized regression coefficient β = -0.297, P < 0.001), lower unstructured PA (β = -0.162, P = 0.042), and higher BF% (β = 0.176, P = 0.044) were related to higher arterial stiffness. When CRF, unstructured PA, and BF% were in the same model, only CRF was associated with arterial stiffness (β = -0.246, P = 0.006). Poorer CRF was also related to lower arterial dilation capacity (β = 0.316, P < 0.001). Children with low CRF (< median) and high BF% (≥ median; P = 0.002), low CRF and low unstructured PA (< median; P = 0.006) or children with low unstructured PA and high BF% (P = 0.005) had higher arterial stiffness than children in the opposite halves of these variables. Poor CRF was independently associated with increased arterial stiffness and impaired arterial dilation capacity among children.

The associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity and sports participation with arterial stiffness in youth with chronic diseases or physical disabilities

“…35 We found that $\stackrel{·}{\text{V}}{\text{O}}_{2\text{peak}}$ relative to FFM was attenuated after further adjustment for waist circumference, but remained at borderline significance. Furthermore, controlling for BMI SDS or body fat percentage had no effect on the relationship between $\stackrel{·}{\text{V}}{\text{O}}_{2\text{peak}}$ relative to FFM and arterial stiffness.…”

Effectiveness of a physical activity intervention in preschoolers: A cluster‐randomized controlled trial

“…6,7 Accordingly, extensive research recognizes the increasing concern of clustered lifestyle risk factors for children's vascular system. 8,9 It | 743 HACKE Et Al.…”

Daily Physical Activity Improves Vascular Function and Motor Skills in Children

“…The Panic-Study showed that better physical fitness, physical activity and a low body fat percentage were associated with more flexible arterial walls already in primary school children and that only physical fitness was independently linked to arterial stiffness [5].…”

“…Moreover, young healthy subjects with familial risk for hypertension showed increased arterial stiffness before any increase in BP [11,16]. In the PANIC-Study, poor cardio-respiratory fitness was independently associated with increased arterial stiffness and impaired arterial dilation capacity already among pre-pubertal children [5]. Augmentation index (AIx = augmentation pressure/pulse pressure) represents pulse wave reflection and has been shown to be closely correlated to various cardiovascular risk scores [17].…”