Abstract:
This study looked at specific physiologic characteristics and heart disease risk factors of 193 male subjects which entered the Ball State University Adult Fitness Program between the years 1973-1975. This analysis was conducted in order that more precise inferences could be made about the results of the ongoing Ball State Heart Disease Study even though statistical adjustments are available for these confounding variables. Subject records were retrieved from the Ball State University Adult Physical Fitness Program database. Descriptive statistics along with a correlation matrix was compiled to assess the relationship between selected physiologic characteristics and coronary heart disease risk factors among these men. Values for heart disease risk factors included a mean age of 39.3 ± 9.1 years, mean weight of 82.8 ± 12.3 kilograms, mean body mass index of 26.5 ± 3.9, mean percent fat of 22.3 ± 8.7 percent, mean systolic blood pressure of 126.4 ± 10.9 mm Hg, mean diastolic blood pressure of 83.3 ± 9.7 mm Hg, mean serum cholesterol of 231.7 ± 52.2 mg/dL, and 29.8 percent of the population were smokers. Upon comparing the BSU cohort to other studies which have viewed the relationship between physical fitness and the incidence of coronary heart disease, the BSU cohort was found to have moderate levels of risk factors present at baseline. The ACLS cohort exhibited the lowest levels of risk factor levels, and the USRR cohort exhibited the highest. Through these findings more clarification can be provided about the results of the ongoing Ball State Heart Disease Study which examines the relationship between physical fitness and coronary heart disease.