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Int J Sports Med 2009; 30(9): 672-676
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1224179
Clinical Sciences

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Physical Fitness and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Men

C. D. Lee 1 , S. Y. Jae 2 , C. Iribarren 3 , K. K. Pettee 4 , Y. H. Choi 5
  • 1Arizona State University, Exercise and Wellness, Mesa, United States
  • 2University of Seoul, Department of Sports Informatics, Seoul, Republic of Korea
  • 3Kaiser Permanente, Division of Research, Oakland, United States
  • 4University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Health Promotion, Social and Behavioral Health, Omaha, United States
  • 5Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Center for Health Promotion, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Publication History

accepted after revision 30.03.2009

Publication Date:
30 June 2009 (online)

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Abstract

We investigated the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and carotid atherosclerosis in 9 871 Korean men aged 40–81 years. We measured carotid intima-media thickness by using B-mode ultrasonography, and cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by a maximal treadmill exercise test using the Bruce protocol. Carotid atherosclerosis was defined as an intima-media wall thickness greater than 1.2 mm or stenosis >25% of carotid arteries, while CRF was classified as low fit (<20%), moderately fit (20-<60%), or high fit (≥60%) categories based on age-specific VO2peak (ml/kg/min) percentiles. The presence of carotid atherosclerosis across CRF categories was 11.7% (low fit), 9.6%, and 7.7%, respectively. After adjustment for age, cigarette smoking, body mass index, physical activity, there was an inverse association between CRF and carotid atherosclerosis (p for trend <0.001). The odds ratio of presence of carotid atherosclerosis in the high-fit men versus the low-fit men was 0.67 (95% CI, 0.55, 0.80). After additional adjustment for high cholesterol, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus, the results remain unchanged and the odds ratios across CRF levels were (95% CI): 1.00 (low fit, referent), 0.85 (0.71, 1.01), 0.71 (0.59, 0.85) (p for trend <0.001), respectively. High levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with a lower risk of having carotid atherosclerosis in middle-aged and elderly men.

Key words

cardiorespiratory fitness - carotid atherosclerosis - intima-media thickness

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Correspondence

Dr. C. D. Lee

Arizona State University

Exercise and Wellness

7350 E

Unity ave

85212 Mesa

United States

Phone: 48/072/719 62

Fax: 48/072/71 051

Email: chong.lee@asu.edu

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