[Cardiovascular risk factors and their influence on the physical fitness of young adults: an assessment among regular and professional soldiers in Germany].
OBJECTIVE
The physical, mental and cognitive demands for military servicemen and -women have increased over the last decades. On the other side, modern society has become a service society with low physical activity during daily life. Consequently, knowledge about effects of this unfavorable lifestyle for physical fitness is of high concern.


METHODS
A retrospective cross-sectional study was done that included 1570 active soldiers (95.3% men; mean age 23.8 ± 2.7 years). Number of cardiovascular risk factors, their influence on physical fitness and reasons for non-fitness for a soldier career were recorded methodically.


RESULTS
54.8% of the examined soldiers were active smokers, 51.1% were overweight or obese and 22.6% had a positive family history of cardiovascular diseases. Lipometabolic disorder was lower (14.9 and 21.2%, respectively ) and apparent diseases were rarely or not detectable. Physical fitness on a bicycle ergometer decreased with increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors. Overweight and hypercholesterolemia were the risk factors with the greatest effect on this reduction. The most frequent reasons for non-fitness for duty were overweight, nutritive-toxic liver diseases and low physical fitness.


CONCLUSIONS
The reduction of physical fitness due to the increasing number of cardiovascular risk factors is a serious problem, particularly because it happens in absence of manifest chronic diseases.
Kommando Sanitätsdienst der Bundeswehr, Sachgebiet Wehrmedizinische Forschung, Koblenz.
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Sammito
Fachuntersuchungsstelle Innere Medizin des Fachsanitätszentrums Augustdorf.
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Niebel
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol