Aptidão física relacionada à saúde e fatores de risco predisponentes às doenças cardiovasculares em adolescentes

Abstract

Health-related physical fitness and cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents Recently indicators associated with health-related physical fitness have been interpreted using criterion-referenced standards. A health-related criterion-referenced standard represents a desirable level to good health status and reduced disease risk that should be attainable by the adolescents. The present study was designed to evaluate the validity of the cut-off points associated with the Physical Best criterion-referenced standard in the identification of adolescents with and without cardiovascular disease risk factors. A total of 281 adolescents (157 girls and 124 boys) varying in age from 15 to 18 years was used in the study. Information on the health-related physical fitness was obtained by means of morphological indicators (body mass index and sum of two skinfolds: triceps and subscapular) and tests of motor performance (sitand-reach, sit-ups and mile run). Cardiovascular disease risk factors included body fat content, cardiorespiratory fitness, levels of arterial pressure and of plasma lipid-lipoprotein concentration. Estimates of sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and efficiency were used to describe the relative validity. The results showed that the sensitivity ranged approximately from 20% to 70%, and the specificity ranged from 30% to 85%. Morphological indicators may correctly identify three out of four adolescents with cardiovascular disease risk factors. Cut-off points associated with motor performance tests were characterized generally by low levels of sensitivity and corresponding high rates of false-negatives. In conclusion, the findings of study suggest that, independently of the cut-off points used, body mass index and sum of skinfold thickness were reasonable alternatives for cardiovascular disease risk factors screening in adolescents.