A Cross-Sectional Analysis on Relationships between Maximum Oxygen Uptake and Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases

Abstract

We examined the relationships between maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2 max) and cardiovascular risk factors including age (year), systolic blood pressure (mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), serum total cholesterol level (mg/d/), serum high-density lipoprotein level (mg/d/), serum triglyceride level (mg/d/), blood glucose level (mg/d I), serum uric acid level (mg/d/), body fat(%bw), Body Mass Index (BMI), alcohol (points/day), cigarettes (/day), and physical activity (METs · exercise time/30days). The alcohol point was defined as follows: beer 633m/= a glass of whiskey and water = sake 180m/= 1 point, and totaled at 30 days. The subjects of our study were 162 males (aged 40.6±13.1) and 133 females (aged 41.3±11.1) who underwent medical and physical examinations at the Fukui Industrial Health Center from April, 1991 to June, 1992. As a result of simple correlation analysis in males, Vo2max had significantly negative correlations with age (r=-0.223, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (r=-0.228, p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r =-0.239, p<0.01), or serum triglyceride level (r=-0.258, p<0.001), serum uric acid level (p<0.05), body fat (r=-0.230, p<0.01), and BMI (r=-0.312, p< 0.001), and was positively correlated with physical activity (r= 0.249, p<0.01). On the other hand, in females, age (r=-0.224, p<0.01), systolic blood pressure (r=-0.222, p<0.01), diastolic blood pressure (r=-0.267, p<0.01), serum triglyceride level (r=-0.261, p<0.001), body fat (r=-0.280, p< 0.01), and BMI (r=-302, p<0.001), had significantly negative correlations with Vo2max. However, partial correlations were tested after controling body fat, BMI, cigarette, alcohol, physical activity, and age, none of the factors correlated with Vo2max significantly. These findings suggest that the risk_ factors for cardiovascular diseases are related to Vo2max, and the life style has an influence on these correlations. Thus, Vo2max may be a comprehensive indicator for health promotion among the working population. Furthemore a longitudinal study is required to determine whether the increase in Vo2max is related to the improvement in the risk of cardiovascular diseases. © 1995, Japan Society for Occupational Health. All rights reserved.