title: Importance of Assessing Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Clinical Practice: A Case for Fitness as a Clinical Vital Sign: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
abstract: Mounting evidence has firmly established that low levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and mortality rates attributable to various cancers. A growing body of epidemiological and clinical evidence demonstrates not only that CRF is a potentially stronger predictor of mortality than established risk factors such as smoking, hypertension, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, but that the addition of CRF to traditional risk factors significantly improves the reclassification of risk for adverse outcomes. The purpose of this statement is to review current knowledge related to the association between CRF and health outcomes, increase awareness of the added value of CRF to improve risk prediction, and suggest future directions in research. Although the statement is not intended to be a comprehensive review, critical references that address important advances in the field are highlighted. The underlying premise of this statement is that the addition of CRF for risk classification presents health professionals with unique opportunities to improve patient management and to encourage lifestyle-based strategies designed to reduce cardiovascular risk. These opportunities must be realized to optimize the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and hence meet the American Heart Association's 2020 goals.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Steven N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: Timothy S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Church
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Després
authors.forename: Barry A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Franklin
authors.forename: William L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Haskell
authors.forename: Leonard A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Kaminsky
authors.forename: Benjamin D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Levine
authors.forename: Carl J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Lavie
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niebauer
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sallis
authors.forename: Susumu S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Ulrik
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wisløff
mesh_terms: D000072599:Cardiorespiratory Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D055686:Metabolic Equivalent; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: AHA Scientific Statements; cardiovascular disease; physical fitness; risk factors