ABC | Volume 110, Nº3, March 2018

Original Article Scherr et al Cardiovascular risk in teenager athletes Arq Bras Cardiol. 2018; 110(3):248-255 Table 4 – Characteristics of the parents/guardians of the students enrolled at Fernando Pimentel School (FP) and at the Experimental Olympics Gymnasium (EOG), who answered the questionnaire FP (N = 148) EOG (N = 274) p value* Mean SD Mean SD Age 39,3 8,8 41,3 9,2 0,07 N % N % Sex Male 13 13.1 40 15.9 0.519 Female 86 86.9 212 84.1 Unknown 49 33.1 22 8.0 Physical activity No 71 83.5 131 52.0 < 0.01 Yes 14 16.5 121 48.0 Unknown 63 42.6 22 8.0 Smoking No 66 77.6 208 82.9 0.26 Yes 19 22.4 40 15.9 Ex-smokers - - 3 1.2 Unknown 63 42.6 23 8.4 SAH No 59 69.4 200 80.6 0.03 Yes 26 30.6 48 19.4 Unknown 63 42.6 26 9.5 Diabetes No 79 92.9 240 95.6 0.39 Yes 6 7.1 11 4.4 Unknown 63 42.6 23 8.4 Previous AMI No 83 96.5 247 98.4 0.38 Yes 3 3.5 4 1.6 Unknown 62 41.9 23 8.4 Previous stroke No 86 100 250 99.6 1.00 Yes - - 1 0.4 Unknown 62 41.9 23 8.4 High cholesterol No 71 86.6 228 91.6 0.19 Yes 11 13.4 21 8.4 Unknown 66 44.6 25 9.1 SD: standard deviation; SAH: systemic arterial hypertension; AMI: acute myocardial infarction. *chi-square test (for categorical variables) or Student’s t-test (for the continuous variable ‘age’) The control of cardiovascular risk factors in childhood and adolescence has been recommended worldwide, since several studies have strongly suggested that the presence of risk factors during childhood will affect cardiovascular health in adulthood. 15 Data of the Bogalusa Heart Study show that excessive adiposity and SAH in childhood and adolescence are associated with myocardial hypertrophy and consequently, higher cardiovascular risk. 16 In addition, during adolescence, low physical activity level may be associated with higher risk of stroke in the future, whereas participation in physical activity is associated with lower risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer and overall mortality in the future. 17,18 These results are in agreement with those reported by Crump et al. 19 from a group of military conscripts at late adolescence, who were followed-up for 43 years. Comparison of the lowest and the highest tertile revealed that high BMI and low aerobic capacity were associated with increased risk of hypertension at adult age. 19 In the HELENA study, higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with a higher number of ideal cardiovascular health components in both boys and girls, especially in boys. These findings in European adolescents indicate that cardiorespiratory fitness, as recommended by the American Heart Association, is positively associated with the ideal cardiovascular health index. Besides, the study identified a hypothetical cardiorespiratory fitness threshold associated with amore favorable cardiovascular health profile, which seems to be more characteristic in boys than girls. Therefore, a lifestyle change focusing on increasing physical activity and improving physical fitness may contribute to the improvement of cardiovascular health. 20 252