[Effects of soccer/football practice on cardiovascular risk factors among young adults from Kinshasa].
OBJECTIVE
This study determined the effects of regular practice of Soccer/Football on some cardiovascular risk factors among young adults: anthropometry and components of blood pressure.


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey comprised a random sample of 100 young adults and regularly playing soccer/Football in Stadium of Martyrs and municipal areas of Matete and Lemba, Kinshasa city, DRC. Their weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure (> or =60 mmHg: preclinic atherosclerosis or arterial stiffness), mass index and respiratory frequency were compared with those of 100 inactive youngs randomly selected from Universities of Kinshasa and Simon Kimbangu, Kinshasa, DRC.


RESULTS
There was no cases of general obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m²) and arterial hypertension in both groups. Both groups had similar (P>0.05) values of anthropometric parameters and diastolic blood pressure. Active players of soccer/Football had lower values of systolic blood pressure (111+/-10 mmHg; p<0.001), pulse pressure (37+/-10 mmHg; p<0.0001) and abdominal obesity (NCEP) (17%; p<0.05) in comparison with those inactive students (systolic blood pressure of 137+/-10 mmHg, pulse pressure of 43+/-10 mmHg, and abdominal obesity 23%).


CONCLUSIONS
Soccer/Football-related physical activity may prevent abdominal obesity, systolic arterial hypertension, and preclinical atherosclerosis/arterial stiffness in young adults from Kinshasa.
Longo-Mbenza
B
B
Service de Cardiologie, Université de Kinshasa, BP 783 Campus, Kinshasa XI, RD Congo. longombenza@yahoo.fr
Mulanda Musango
J M
JM
Nkiama
Ekisawa
E
Nkakudulu Bikuku
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012119:Respiration; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012916:Soccer; D055815:Young Adult