Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Metabolic Syndrome in Older Men and Women

OBJECTIVE We studied the association of maximum oxygen uptake (Vo2max) with the development and resolution of metabolic syndrome (MetS) for 2 years in older individuals. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Subjects were a population sample of 1,226 men and women aged 57–78 years. We assessed Vo2max directly by respiratory gas analysis during maximum exercise testing and used dichotomous and continuous variables for MetS. RESULTS One SD increase in baseline Vo2max associated with 44% (95% CI 24–58) decreased risk of developing MetS. Individuals in the highest third of baseline Vo2max were 68% (37–84) less likely to develop MetS than those in the lowest third. One SD increase in Vo2max increased the likelihood to resolve MetS 1.8 (1.2–2.8) times. Individuals in the highest Vo2max third were 3.9 (1.5–9.9) times more likely to resolve MetS than those in the lowest third. CONCLUSIONS Higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness protect against MetS and may resolve it in older individuals.

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