Is Cardiopulmonary Fitness Level a Risk Factor in Young Saudi Females?

Abstract

Low physical fitness is one of the all-cause mortality risk factors. This study aims to estimate cardiopulmonary fitness (VO₂ max) in young Saudi females and correlate it to anthropometric and hemodynamic parameters. Forty-eight young Saudi females completed an exercise stress test until exhaustion. Basal and maximum pulse rate, arterial blood pressure, VO₂max and other anthropometric data were measured. The population was divided into low and high VO₂ max groups and a comparison was run using student t-test. Correlation was tested between VO₂ max and other measured parameters. The mean VO₂ max of the sample population was low (33.6 ± 8.2 mL/ (kg min) with 37.5% exhibiting fair to very poor VO₂ max value. The low VO₂ max group was characterized by higher body mass index, exercise diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure when compared to normal VO₂ max group, indicating a strong negative correlation. This study revealed a low cardiopulmonary fitness in young Saudi females and showed a strong association between VO₂ max and increased body fat and maximum exercise diastolic blood pressure. These findings provide reliable indicators of increased all-cause mortality risk in young Saudi females and increase the urgency of prompt action.