Research highlights the significance of cardiorespiratory fitness in health assessments

A recent study has shed light on the importance of incorporating cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) assessments into annual health checkups to evaluate overall health status and predict potential risks of underlying diseases and mortality.

CRF, also known as cardio or aerobic fitness, refers to the ability of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels to deliver oxygen during sustained physical activity. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), an individual’s aerobic fitness level can indicate various health factors such as smoking, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels.

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the study emphasizes the need to integrate CRF evaluations into routine clinical and public health practices. This recommendation comes in light of reports of seemingly healthy individuals succumbing to conditions like heart disease.

Sanjay Chugh, Associate Director and Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiology at Narayana Hospital Gurugram, stressed the importance of annual cardiorespiratory fitness tests, especially for apparently healthy adults. These tests can predict the risk of cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes, surpassing traditional risk factors like diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking.

Furthermore, CRF assessments can anticipate the likelihood of developing conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or mental illnesses, according to Chugh. The study’s findings revealed that individuals with high CRF levels had reduced risks of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, while those with lower CRF levels were predisposed to chronic conditions like hypertension, heart failure, stroke, and others in the future.

Incorporating CRF measurements into standard health assessments can enhance early detection of potential health risks and facilitate more targeted interventions, ultimately promoting better health outcomes for individuals, as advocated by Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals.