Physical Fitness and Indicators of Cardiovascular Risk in Population with Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the relationship between physical condition and indirect indicators of cardiovascular risk in children and young people with intellectual disabilities. Materials and Methods: The study was an observational cross-sectional one, which evaluated the physical condition of 175 students with intellectual disabilities, using the Brockport Physical Fitness battery for children under 18 years of age. For those over 18 years, the same tests were used, but with age scales. For the statistical analysis, normality tests and Pearson correlation were applied with the statistics program SPSS 20.1 version, with 95 % confidence levels. Results: In body composition, a population older than 18 years had higher values than those under 18 years. In children under 18 years of age, a direct correlation was observed between the anthropometric variables, forming a high cardiovascular risk (r = 0.77 p 0.01); a negative correlation was observed between anthropometric variables with aerobic power and strength (r = -0.423, r = -0.593 p 0.01). In the population over 18 years of age, there was a negative correlation between arm strength (r = -0.60 p 0.01) and aerobic power (r = -0.471 p 0.01) with cardiovascular risk variables. Conclusion: A relationship between the variables of cardiovascular risk and qualities such as strength and aerobic capacity is observed, being physical fitness variables risk predictors.

Keywords

• Intellectual disability
• physical fitness
• risk factors
• cardiovascular disease.