Sedentary Behaviour, Physical Activity, Physical Fitness and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in 11-12 Years-old Children

摘要

Aim: Examine the influence of sedentary behaviour (SED), physical activity (PA), muscular strength (MS) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) on subclinical atherosclerosis in 11-12 years-old children. Methods: We assessed intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery in 366 children aged 11-12 years-old (191 girls). Measures included IMT assessed with high-resolution ultrasonography, pulse pressure (PP), a maximal handgrip strength test, body mass index, waist circumference, body fat mass and lean mass (LEAN) from DXA and CRF determined using a maximal cycle ergometer test. SED and PA were assessed by accelerometry. MS was adjusted for LEAN yielding relative MS (RMS). Association between IMT and RMS adjusted for SED, PA and CRF were tested with multiple linear regression analysis. Differences in risk factors among RMS groups were tested with ANOVA/ANCOVA. Results: RMS was related to IMT independently of PA, CRF, age, gender, maturity and PP (p<0.05). As compared with the higher RMS group, subjects in the lower RMS group had increased body composition phenotypes, hemodynamics and IMT, and lower moderate-vigorous PA, MS and CRF (p<0.05). Full modelling exposed the detrimental and independent role of RMS in arterial structure in 11-12 years-old children. Greater RMS is associated with improved vascular health even in children.