IDEAL CARDIOVASCULAR HEALTH STATUS AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN ADOLESCENTS: THE LABMED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY STUDY

ABSTRACT Objective: Adolescent’s ideal cardiovascular health index (ICVH) seems to be an important indicator of youth’s lifestyles and cardiometabolic health with potential positive consequences for their Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between the ICVH index and HRQoL in adolescents. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on secondary analyses from the LabMed Physical Activity Study (n=407 adolescents, 53% girls). ICVH, as defined by the American Heart Association, was determined as meeting ideal behaviors (physical activity, body mass index, smoking status, and diet intake) and health factors (blood pressure, total glucose, and cholesterol). HRQoL was measured with the Kidscreen-10 self-report questionnaire. Results: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed a significant association between the accumulation of ideal cardiovascular health metrics and HRQoL (F(4,403)=4.160; p=0.003). In addition, the higher the number of ideal health behaviors accumulated, the higher the mean values of HRQoL (p-value for trend=0.001), after adjustments for age, sex, socioeconomic status and pubertal stage. Conclusions: ICVH index was positively associated with HRQoL in adolescents. Ideal health behaviors metrics seem to have a stronger association with HRQoL than the ideal health factors metrics in adolescents. RESUMO Objetivo: O Índice de Saúde Cardiovascular Ideal (ISCI) do adolescente parece ser um importante indicador do estilo de vida e da saúde cardiometabólica dos jovens, com possíveis consequências positivas para a Qualidade de Vida Relacionada à Saúde (QVRS). O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar as associações do ISCI e da QVRS em adolescentes. Métodos: Este foi um estudo transversal baseado em análises secundárias do estudo LabMed Physical Activity (n=407 adolescentes, 53% meninas). O ISCI, conforme definido pela American Heart Association, foi determinado como atendendo a comportamentos ideais (atividade física, índice de massa corporal, tabagismo e padrão alimentar) e fatores de saúde (pressão arterial, glicose total e colesterol). A QVRS foi mensurada com o questionário de autorrelato Kidscreen-10. Resultados: A análise de covariância mostrou associação entre o acúmulo de métricas ideais de saúde cardiovascular e a QVRS (F(4,403)=4,160; p=0,003). Quanto maior o número de comportamentos ideais de saúde acumulados, maiores os valores médios da QVRS (p-valor de tendência=0,001), após ajustes