title: Reduced arterial stiffness in very fit boys and girls.
abstract: Low cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, whereas high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protect the cardiovascular system. Carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility are well-established parameters to identify subclinical cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the influence of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength on carotid intima-media thickness and arterial distensibility in 697 children and adolescents (376 girls), aged 7-17 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness and strength were measured with the test battery FITNESSGRAM; carotid intima-media thickness, arterial compliance, elastic modulus, stiffness index β, and pulse wave velocity β were assessed by B- and M-mode ultrasound at the common carotid artery. In bivariate correlation, cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with all cardiovascular parameters and was an independent predictor in multivariate regression analysis. No significant associations were obtained for muscular strength. In a one-way variance analysis, very fit boys and girls (58 boys and 74 girls>80th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness) had significantly decreased stiffness parameters (expressed in standard deviation scores) compared with low fit subjects (71 boys and 77 girls<20th percentile for cardiorespiratory fitness): elastic modulus -0.16±1.02 versus 0.19±1.17, p=0.009; stiffness index β -0.15±1.08 versus 0.16±1.1, p=0.03; and pulse wave velocity β -0.19±1.02 versus 0.19±1.14, p=0.005. Cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with healthier arteries in children and adolescents. Comparison of very fit with unfit subjects revealed better distensibility parameters in very fit boys and girls.
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Preventive Pediatrics,Technische Universität München,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Weberruß
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pirzer
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Preventive Pediatrics,Technische Universität München,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Preventive Pediatrics,Technische Universität München,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalla Pozza
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatric Cardiology,Ludwig-Maximilians-University,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Heinrich
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Netz
authors.affiliation: 1Institute of Preventive Pediatrics,Technische Universität München,Munich,Germany.
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oberhoffer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; cardiorespiratory fitness; children; intima-media thickness; muscular strength