Predictors Of Vascular Markers Of Cardiac Risk In Collegiate Students

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is considered the number one cause of death in both adult men and women today. Non-invasive vascular markers examining vessel stiffness and compliancy including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), central augmentation index (cAIX), and mean arterial pressure (MAP), have been reported to be an excellent correlate of CVD. Since excess adiposity and decreased levels of physical activity levels both contribute to CVD and both escalate with aging, it would be important to determine whether these measures contribute to vascular markers of CVD risk early on before cardiac risk begins to escalate. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of body composition and physical fitness measures on vascular markers of cardiac risk in collegiate male and female students. METHODS: A total of 164 healthy, young adults with a mean age of 20.5 years (male = 65, female N = 99) volunteered to complete an evaluation of body composition (total adiposity, visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and muscle mass), physical fitness measurements (aerobic fitness, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility) and vascular measures (cfPWV, cAIX, and MAP). Multivariate linear regression tests were used to determine predictors of cardiac risk for the total sample and by gender, independently. RESULTS: For the total sample, total adiposity contributed to cfPWV (p < 0.05) and cAIx (p < 0.05). VAT contributed to cfPWV (p < 05). Muscular strength contributed to cfPWV (p < 0.05). In male subjects, both total adiposity (p < .01) and aerobic fitness predicted cfPWV (p < 0.05). Regarding female subjects, total adiposity was associated with both cfPWV (p < 0.05) and MAP (p < 0.05) while aerobic fitness predicted cfPWV only (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both anthropometric and physical fitness measures can predict vascular markers that may have important implications for cardiovascular health in the future.