title: Physical activity versus cardiorespiratory fitness: two (partly) distinct components of cardiovascular health?
abstract: Physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) both have inverse relationships to cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Recent position papers and guidelines have identified the important role of both of these factors in CV health. The benefits of PA and CRF in the prevention of CV disease and risk factors are reviewed. In addition, assessment methodology and utilization in the research and clinical arenas are discussed. Finally, the benefits, methodology, and utilization are compared and contrasted to better understand the two (partly) distinct components and their impact on CV health.
authors.affiliation: The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX. Electronic address: ldefina@cooperinst.org.
authors.forename: Laura F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: DeFina
authors.affiliation: Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA.
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.affiliation: The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Benjamin L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Carolyn E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Barlow
authors.affiliation: The Cooper Institute, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Carrie E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Finley
authors.affiliation: Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine, Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.affiliation: Cooper Clinic, Dallas, TX.
authors.forename: Kenneth H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011634:Public Health; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: AHA; American Heart Association; CCLS; CHD; CRF; CV; CVD; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular disease prevention; Cooper Center Longitudinal Study; METs; O(2); PA; Physical activity; RR; VO(2max); cardiorespiratory fitness; cardiovascular; cardiovascular disease; coronary heart disease; maximal oxygen consumption; metabolic equivalents; oxygen; physical activity; relative risk