Influence of Physical Activity and VO2max in Coronary Risk in Subjects Aged Over 40

Abstract

Similarly to what is observed in developed countries, coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major cause of death in Brazil. Risk factors for CHD have been compiled in scores which are influenced by physical activity and fitness in the general population. PURPOSE: To assess the influence of cardio-respiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity pattern over CHD risk in Brazilian Army military personnel aged 40 years and more. METHODS: Blood lipid profile, blood pressure and glycemia status were measured after 12 hours fasting in 973 male subjects. Smoking habits and physical activity patterns were obtained by means of questionnaires. All data collected were used to calculate the 10 yr Framinghan risk score (FRS). The CRF index used was VO2max, which was estimated by a 12 min-run test using Cooper equation. Subjects were stratified in low FRS (below 10%), mean FRS (from 10% to 19%) and high FRS (above 19%) groups. RESULTS: Subjects' age was 44.5 ± 3.95 (mean±sd) years and Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.3 ± 3.6 kg.m-2. Most of the subjects (76.2%) had low RC and just a few of them showed high RC (3.1%). Approximately, only 75% of the subjects exercised regularly (at least 60 min per session, 3+ times a week). These regularly active males presented lower prevalence (p<0.05) of high FRS (2.3%) when compared to the rest of the subjects (4.2%). Physical activity characteristics also influenced (p<0.05) the FRS - subjects who exercised for at least 60 min per session and at high intensity showed lower values in comparison to subjects who exercised for less than 30 min (0.8 vs. 4.1%, respectively) and at low intensity (1.2 vs. 5.1%, respectively). Subjects with the highest VO2max (above 70th percentile - ACSM, 2006) had significantly (p<0.001) lower FRS (0.2%) than subjects with average (1.4%) or below average CRF (below 30th percentile, 4.9%). CONCLUSIONS: CRF and physical activity characteristics (frequency, intensity and duration) may significantly protect subjects against CHD events, even in a homogeneous sample of physically active males, according to FRS.