Background:

Cardiovascular diseases are the principal cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Obesity, sarco-penia, insufficient physical activity, and sedentary behaviors synergistically impact cardiovascular risk.

Objective:

Evaluate cardiovascular risk in relation to physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and body composition.

Materials and Methods:

Cross-sectional observational study in 95 total males and females. Cardiovascular risk was determined using the Framingham score, which corrects for total area of atherosclerotic plaque. Risk was also determined using body composition, anthropometry, bioimpedance and dynamometry as indirect indicators, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, and a validated questionnaire. Descriptive, correlation and association analyses were conducted with 95% confidence.

Results:

95% of women and 98% of men presented with an elevated cardiovascular risk; 51.5% with obesity, 95.5% central obesity, and 47.3% with diminished muscular strength. Significant positive associations were observed between cardiovascular risk and waist circumference (rho=0.26; p=0.024). There was no significant association between muscle strength and cardiovascular risk (rho=-0.21, p=0.065). Sedentary behavior increased cardiovascular risk (OR=3.9; p=0.033).

Conclusions:

Central obesity and staying more than six hours per day in a sitting position are factors associated with cardiovascular risk.

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