title: Cardio-respiratory fitness markers among Kenyan university students using a 20m shuttle run test (SRT).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess Cardio-respiratory fitness (CF) markers among university students using a 20m shuttle run test (SRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Markers of CF were assessed in 80 males aged 21.4±1.8 years, randomly selected from Moi University, Kenya. Assessed at different stages of SRT protocol included heart rate (HR), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP & DBP). VO2max was also determined. Data were analyzed using Stata v10. Comparisons were based on subjects exercise regimes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with either regular or irregular regimes attained lower HR in 4(th) minute of SRT compared to non-exercise group (174.5±11.6 and 172.2±10.8 vs 182.8±6.8 b/m; p=0.04 and p=0.01 respectively). Lower HRs were maintained among irregularly exercising after 5(th) minute (176.5±10.1 vs 186.7±6.3 b/m; p=0.02). Regularly exercising subjects obtained lowest DBP at exhaustion compared to irregular and non-exercising (58.58±15.0, 62.43±12.9 and 64.1±8.8 mmhg respectively). VO2maxpredictors included year of study (r=-0.40), age (r=-0.41) and weight (r=-0.23). The regularly exercising had higher VO2max than irregular (p<0.01) and non-exercising (p<0.001). No demonstrable difference in VO2max existed between irregular and non-exercise subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exercise regimes should be emphasized amongst university students, albeit with less regard to regularity, which should be encouraged for those in higher study years and those with higher DBP at exhaustion.
authors: Department of Medical Physiology, Moi University, Kenya. kmagutah@yahoo.com
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Magutah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cardio-respiratory fitness; exercise
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