Gender comparison of C-reactive protein and cardiovascular disease risk in college students and intercollegiate
J C Orri1, S R Carter, E B Howington
1Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94117-1080, USA. jorri@usfca.edu
Insights
Cardiovascular risk factors like HDL, SBP, and body fat differ between college-aged men and women. Many students exhibit risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD), highlighting the need for early intervention.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Sports Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in young adults is understudied.
- Understanding cardiovascular risk in college populations is crucial for long-term health.
- Gender-specific differences in cardiovascular risk may emerge during young adulthood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare cardiovascular risk factors between college-aged men and women.
- To identify specific risk factors associated with coronary artery disease in young adults.
- To investigate the relationship between C-reactive protein (CRP) and cardiovascular risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Thirty college men and women participated in the study.
- Assessed cardiovascular risk factors including blood pressure, body composition, cholesterol, and glucose.
- Utilized t-tests for group comparisons and correlation analyses for risk factor relationships.
Main Results:
- Significant gender differences were found in HDL, TC/HDL ratio, SBP, and %BF.
- No significant differences in total cholesterol or CRP levels between genders.
- CRP was positively correlated with %BF and BMI; 47% of participants had one or more CAD risk factors.
Conclusions:
- College students exhibit gender-specific differences in coronary artery disease risk.
- % body fat, BMI, waist circumference, and fasting glucose are associated with CRP.
- Early identification and management of cardiovascular risk factors in young adults are essential.
Aim:
Research involving coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in young adults is limited; therefore we compared cardiovascular risk between college-aged men and women.
Methods:
Thirty college men and women volunteered as study subjects. CAD risk assessment included systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), waist circumference, percent body fat (%BF), maximum oxygen consumption, fasting plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), Body Mass Index (BMI) and fasting glucose. Risk factors were compared between groups using a t-test and Pearson product moment correlations were used to determine the relationships between CRP and CAD risk factors.
Results:
Statistically significant differences were observed for HDL, TC/HDL ratio, SBP, and %BF, between men and women. Total cholesterol and CRP concentration were not different between men and women. Log CRP was positively correlated with %BF and BMI. Further, 47% of the subjects met the criteria for one or more risk factors for CAD, as specified by the American College of Sports Medicine.
Conclusion:
Our data indicate a gender difference in CAD risk in college students with similar reported activity. Waist circumference, fasting glucose, % body fat, and BMI are associated with CRP in college age men and women.
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