737 A R T Í C U L O D E I N V E S T I G A C I Ó N Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137: 737-745 Correspondencia a: EM Verónica Krämer. Departamento de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Pontificia Universidad Ca- tólica de Chile. Lira # 85, primer piso, Santiago. Teléfono: 3543334. Fax: 6325275. E mail: vero.kramer@gmail.com; macevedo@med.puc.cl Actividad física y potencia aeróbica: ¿Cómo influyen sobre los factores de riesgo cardiovascular clásicos y emergentes? Verónica Krämer 1a , M ónica Acevedo 1 , Lorena Orellana 1a , Gastón Chamorro 1 , Ramón Corbalán 1 , M a José Bustamante 1a , Francisca M arqués 1a , M arcelo Fernández 1 , Carlos Navarrete 2b . Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in healthy individuals Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (FIT) is associated with a better profile in most modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (RF). In Chile, sedentary lifestyle is highly prevalent, reaching almost 90%. Aim: To determine the association between FIT and traditional and emergent RF in a primary prevention population. Material and methods: We prospectively studied 1973 subjects (36% women, mean age 56 ±13 years) without history of cardiovascular disease and absence of ischemic changes on exercise testing. We assessed cardiovascular RF and determined body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood lipids, glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen. FIT was measured by a self-reported physical activity questionnaire and by a maximal treadmill exercise test, expressed in metabolic equivalents (METs). Results: Subjects in the highest FIT according to the treadmill test had significantly lower BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, tryglycerides, glucose, CRP and fibrinogen, and higher HDL cholesterol (adjusted by age and gender). LDL cholesterol did not show significant changes. The same pattern of RF (including LDL cholesterol) and CRP was observed when using self- reported physical activity as a FIT parameter. There was a significant association between both methods to measure FIT (p <0.0001, Chi-square Mantel-Haenszel). Conclusions: Our findings show that a better level of FIT, assessed by exercise testing or through self-report is associated with improved levels of traditional and emergent RF (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137: 737-45). ( Key words: Cardiovascular diseases; Exercise; Risk factors) Recibido el 25 de septiembre, 2008. Aceptado el 9 de abril, 2009. 1 Unidad de Cardiología Preventiva y Rehabilitación Cardiovascular, Departamento de En- fermedades Cardiovasculares, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Santiago de Chile. 2 Departamento de Matemática, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío. a Enfermera Matrona b Estadístico