Relationship Between Physical Activity Frequency and Cardiovascular Risk Throughout the Life Cycle

Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a leading cause of premature mortality globally, despite the proven efficacy of physical activity in reducing risks. This research aims to identify risk characteristics and characterise pathologies related to the onset of CVD in relation to physical activity levels. The study tests the hypothesis that adequate physical activity is associated with CVD-related events, while sedentary behaviour is a factor related to increased risk factors. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted with 116 participants of both sexes (aged 16 to 77 years) in El Espinal, Tolima. Clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical assessments were performed, including blood pressure, Body Mass Index (BMI), visceral fat, and lipid profiles. Physical activity was self-reported and categorised as weekly, monthly, and occasional exercise. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses were performed. Quantitative variables were expressed as means and standard deviations. Qualitative variables were presented as absolute frequencies. Statistical interaction graphs were used to analyse the effects of age and exercise frequency on pulse pressure. Results: Weekly exercise was identified as a key modulator of hemodynamic stability; while BMI and visceral fat increased with age, pulse pressure remained stable (44.17-46.55 mmHg). In contrast, occasional exercise was linked to high cardiovascular vulnerability, with pulse pressure spiking to a critical 75.00 mmHg in elderly participants (77 years) and BMI reaching obesity levels (38.15 kg/m²). Monthly exercise showed high variability and progressive lipid profile deterioration, with total cholesterol reaching 282.00 mg/dL in late maturity. Conclusions: Regular weekly physical activity acts as a physiological buffer that dissociates chronological ageing from vascular damage. While weekly exercise maintains optimal hemodynamic and metabolic ranges, occasional or inconsistent activity fails to prevent critical increases in pulse pressure and arterial stiffness during senescence. These findings underscore the necessity of regular, rather than sporadic, exercise as a vital "medicine" for maintaining arterial integrity across the lifespan.