Update to the 2016 American Heart Association cardiorespiratory fitness statement

Authors

Robert Ross, School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, School of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: rossr@queensu.ca.
Ross Arena, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Applied Health Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Jonathan Myers, Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System and Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
Peter Kokkinos, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cardiology, Washington, DC, USA; Department of Kinesiology and Health, School of Arts and Sciences, Rutgers University, USA; George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA.
Leonard A. Kaminsky, Clinical Exercise Physiology, College of Health, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2-21-2024

Journal

Progress in cardiovascular diseases

DOI

10.1016/j.pcad.2024.02.003

Keywords

All-cause mortality; Cardiorespiratory fitness; Cardiovascular disease; Exercise

Abstract

In 2016 the American Heart Association published a scientific statement that summarized a large body of evidence concluding that cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was a powerful marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-mortality risk; its association with morbidity and mortality was independent of commonly obtained risk factors, and consequently, that it should be a routine measure in all health care settings. Since 2016 the interest in CRF as a prognostic for human health and performance has increased exponentially. This review will summarize a growing body of evidence that reinforces the notion that the assessment of CRF improves patient/client management. Feasible means of CRF assessment in health care settings is considered, and the expected response of CRF to exercise consistent with consensus recommendations is reviewed. The association between CRF and health care costs is also explored. The evidence reviewed will reinforce the conclusions drawn in 2016; that overwhelming evidence demands that CRF should be a routine assessment in all health care settings - a vital sign.

APA Citation

Ross, Robert; Arena, Ross; Myers, Jonathan; Kokkinos, Peter; and Kaminsky, Leonard A., "Update to the 2016 American Heart Association cardiorespiratory fitness statement" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 4322.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/4322

Department

Clinical Research and Leadership