title: Assessment of cardiovascular risk in collegiate football players and nonathletes.
abstract: Collegiate American football players may be at risk for cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to compare cardiovascular disease risk factors and cardiovascular structure and function parameters of football players, stratified by position, to a group of sedentary, nonathletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  twenty-six collegiate football players and 13 nonathletes participated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  blood pressures, anthropometrics, and blood chemistries were obtained and analyzed using standardized procedures. Resting echocardiography was used to evaluate cardiac morphology and function. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation was assessed using high-resolution ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was significantly higher amongst the linemen compared to the skill-position players (46% versus 0%, p < .05). Mildly abnormal wall thickness was noted in 20% of the football players. No significant differences in vascular function were observed between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the increased prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in the collegiate linemen may increase cardiovascular disease risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA. ddobrosl@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Devon A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Dobrosielski
authors.forename: Daryl
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rosenbaum
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Wooster
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: J Brian
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Brubaker
mesh_terms: D001916:Brachial Artery; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005538:Football; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult