Seven-year change in graded exercise treadmill test performance in young adults in the CARDIA study. Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Young Adults.
OBJECTIVE
Most studies of physical fitness change have been relatively small, not population-based, and lacking in women and nonwhites. The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate the 7-yr change in physical fitness in a biracial (black and white) population of young men and women.


METHODS
We evaluated change in exercise treadmill test performance in a biracial (black and white) population of 1,962 young adults, ages 18-30 yr at baseline, who completed symptom-limited graded exercise treadmill tests at the baseline (1985-1986) and year 7 (1992-1993) examinations of the CARDIA study.


RESULTS
Mean test duration decreased 58 s (9.5%) over 7 yr (black men, 13.6% decrease, white men, 7.4%; black women, 11.1%; white women, 7.0%). Mean time to heart rate 130 (WL130), a measure of submaximal performance, decreased 31 s (11.3%) (black men, 16.9%; white men, 10.0%; black women, 12.3%; white women, 6.1%). Baseline body mass index (BMI) and physical activity were not statistically significant predictors of test duration change in any race-gender group, but change in BMI and activity were. Seven-year weight gain >20 lbs (31% of cohort) was associated with a large decrease in fitness (18.5% decrease in mean duration, 21.8% decrease in WL130).


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest that fitness declines during young adulthood in blacks and whites and that fitness changes are related to changes in weight and physical activity.
Sidney
S
S
Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, CA, USA.
Sternfeld
B
B
Haskell
W L
WL
Quesenberry
C P
CP
Crow
R S
RS
Thomas
R J
RJ
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D044465:White People