Fitness cardiorrespiratorio estimado mediante ecuación y su caracterización sociodemográfica en población chilena: resultados de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2016-2017

Resumen

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness is a strong predictor of mortality and chronic diseases. However, its estimation is costly and time consuming which may limit it broad use in population-based studies. Aim: To estimate the cardiorespiratory fitness of the Chilean population using equations and to characterize fitness levels of the Chilean population by sociodemographic factors. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 5,958 adults from the Chilean Health Survey conducted between 2016 and 2017. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated from equations (which consider age, sex, weight, height smoking (yes/no) and physical activity (yes/no) as predictive variables) and expressed as METs (Metabolic Energy Equivalent). The sample was stratified by sociodemographic factors (age, sex, education, income and zone of residency). Results: Fitness levels were higher in men than women (9.01 and 6.76 METs respectively). They decreased by a mean of 0.59 and 0.34 METs per each year of age increment for men and women, respectively. Fitness levels were 12.7 and 7.8 METs in 20 years old men and women, respectively. These figures decreased to 7.8 and 4.3 METs in 90 years old men and women, respectively. Fitness levels were also higher in individuals living in urban settings, those with higher education or income levels and lean individuals. Conclusions: Fitness levels were higher in men than women. Its decline with age was more pronounced in men than in women.