Cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in physically active and inactive Portuguese middle-aged adults: A cross-sectional study

Objective. - This study aims to assess cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in Portuguese middle-aged adults according to gender and level of PA. Equipment and methods. - This cross-sectional study evaluated cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors in 275 Portuguese adults (33.0 +/- 7.3 years old) according to gender and level of physical activity. Subjects' body weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure and fasting blood glucose were assessed. Body mass index was subsequently calculated and body fat was assessed by bioelectrical impedance. Results. -The majority of inactive men was obese (69.7%) and 21.7% was overweight; 71.2% of the inactive women were obese (33.3 +/- 4.2 kg/m(2)) and 28.8% was overweight. There were no inactive women presenting normal BMI. Although there were no significantly differences in age (P >= 0.05) between active and inactive participants, there were significant differences (P < 0.05) among other cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors. In inactive participants of both sexes, high levels of body fat, waist circumference and fasting blood glucose, and hypertension were risk factors for developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, with the fasting blood glucose >= 100 mg/dl being the most significant (OR =4.21). Inactive women were more likely to be at greater cardiovascular and metabolic risk than inactive men, which emphasizes the need for greater awareness about primary prevention of cardio-metabolic diseases in early ages, especially in women. (C) 2019 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.