Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study
Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality globally. While the relationship between indicators of physical fitness and arterial structure and stiffness are reasonably well-studied in adults, these associations in children and adolesc...
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SpringerOpen
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Sports Medicine - Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00841-w |
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| author | Emilia Laitinen Sonja Soininen Marja H. Leppänen Katja Waller Bert Bond Niina Lintu Avery D. Faigenbaum Tomi Laitinen Eero A. Haapala Timo A. Lakka |
| author_facet | Emilia Laitinen Sonja Soininen Marja H. Leppänen Katja Waller Bert Bond Niina Lintu Avery D. Faigenbaum Tomi Laitinen Eero A. Haapala Timo A. Lakka |
| author_sort | Emilia Laitinen |
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| description | Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality globally. While the relationship between indicators of physical fitness and arterial structure and stiffness are reasonably well-studied in adults, these associations in children and adolescents remain less understood. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and motor fitness with arterial structure and stiffness from childhood to adolescence. Results Higher mean value of VO2peak/LM from childhood to adolescence was associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at 8-year follow-up (β = 0.184, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.019 to 0.350). Better performance in sit-up test at baseline was associated with lower cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) (β = − 0.219, 95% CI = − 0.387 to − 0.051) at 8-year follow-up, and higher mean sit-up performance from baseline to 8-year follow-up was associated with lower carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) (β = − 0.178, 95% CI = − 0.353 to − 0.003) and CAVI (β = − 0.190, 95% CI = − 0.365 to − 0.016) at 8-year follow-up. Also cross-sectionally, better sit-up performance at 8-year follow-up was associated with lower cfPWV (β = − 0.232, 95% CI = − 0.411 to − 0.054) and CAVI (β = − 0.185, 95% CI = − 0.365 to − 0.005) and higher carotid artery distensibility (β = 0.165, 95% CI = 0.004 to 0.327) at 8-year follow-up. Most of the associations were explained by body fat percentage (BF%). Conclusions Physical fitness had a weak if any association with indicators of arterial structure and arterial stiffness in adolescence. BF% largely explained the associations of higher VO2peak/LM with higher cIMT and better sit-up performance with lower arterial stiffness in adolescents. Therefore, preventing adiposity rather than improving CRF should be addressed in public health strategies to prevent CVDs in general paediatric populations. Key Points Better sit-up performance was associated with lower arterial stiffness, but the association was largely explained by body fat percentage. Lower body muscular strength, handgrip strength, or motor fitness was not associated with arterial stiffness or carotid artery intima-media thickness. Measures other than cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, or motor fitness, such as adiposity, should be used to screen children and adolescents at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ba7b453016f84b37bb14d3fd412a98e8 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2198-9761 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Sports Medicine - Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-ba7b453016f84b37bb14d3fd412a98e82025-08-20T02:11:22ZengSpringerOpenSports Medicine - Open2198-97612025-05-0111111110.1186/s40798-025-00841-wAssociations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up StudyEmilia Laitinen0Sonja Soininen1Marja H. Leppänen2Katja Waller3Bert Bond4Niina Lintu5Avery D. Faigenbaum6Tomi Laitinen7Eero A. Haapala8Timo A. Lakka9Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of JyväskyläInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio CampusInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio CampusFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of JyväskyläFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of ExeterInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio CampusDepartment of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, The College of New JerseyDepartment of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Kuopio University HospitalFaculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of JyväskyläInstitute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio CampusAbstract Background Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of morbidity and premature mortality globally. While the relationship between indicators of physical fitness and arterial structure and stiffness are reasonably well-studied in adults, these associations in children and adolescents remain less understood. The aim of this study was to investigate longitudinal associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness and motor fitness with arterial structure and stiffness from childhood to adolescence. Results Higher mean value of VO2peak/LM from childhood to adolescence was associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) at 8-year follow-up (β = 0.184, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.019 to 0.350). Better performance in sit-up test at baseline was associated with lower cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) (β = − 0.219, 95% CI = − 0.387 to − 0.051) at 8-year follow-up, and higher mean sit-up performance from baseline to 8-year follow-up was associated with lower carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) (β = − 0.178, 95% CI = − 0.353 to − 0.003) and CAVI (β = − 0.190, 95% CI = − 0.365 to − 0.016) at 8-year follow-up. Also cross-sectionally, better sit-up performance at 8-year follow-up was associated with lower cfPWV (β = − 0.232, 95% CI = − 0.411 to − 0.054) and CAVI (β = − 0.185, 95% CI = − 0.365 to − 0.005) and higher carotid artery distensibility (β = 0.165, 95% CI = 0.004 to 0.327) at 8-year follow-up. Most of the associations were explained by body fat percentage (BF%). Conclusions Physical fitness had a weak if any association with indicators of arterial structure and arterial stiffness in adolescence. BF% largely explained the associations of higher VO2peak/LM with higher cIMT and better sit-up performance with lower arterial stiffness in adolescents. Therefore, preventing adiposity rather than improving CRF should be addressed in public health strategies to prevent CVDs in general paediatric populations. Key Points Better sit-up performance was associated with lower arterial stiffness, but the association was largely explained by body fat percentage. Lower body muscular strength, handgrip strength, or motor fitness was not associated with arterial stiffness or carotid artery intima-media thickness. Measures other than cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, or motor fitness, such as adiposity, should be used to screen children and adolescents at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00841-wCardiorespiratory fitnessMuscular fitnessMotor fitnessArterial stiffnessAtherosclerosisCardiovascular disease |
| spellingShingle | Emilia Laitinen Sonja Soininen Marja H. Leppänen Katja Waller Bert Bond Niina Lintu Avery D. Faigenbaum Tomi Laitinen Eero A. Haapala Timo A. Lakka Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study Sports Medicine - Open Cardiorespiratory fitness Muscular fitness Motor fitness Arterial stiffness Atherosclerosis Cardiovascular disease |
| title | Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study |
| title_full | Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study |
| title_fullStr | Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study |
| title_short | Associations of Physical Fitness During Childhood with Arterial Structure and Stiffness in Adolescence: An 8-Year Follow-up Study |
| title_sort | associations of physical fitness during childhood with arterial structure and stiffness in adolescence an 8 year follow up study |
| topic | Cardiorespiratory fitness Muscular fitness Motor fitness Arterial stiffness Atherosclerosis Cardiovascular disease |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-025-00841-w |
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