Abstract des Autors

Cross-sectional data on 34 young female athletes (YA), 34 middle-aged former top-level athletes exercising continuously 3 or more times/week (MA), 48 young (YSW), and 45 middle-aged sedentary females (MS) were examined for determination of differences in coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors, physical fitness and lifestyle patterns between different age groups analogous to their physical activity. The Sharkey's questionnaire was used to determine the levels of physical activity of the subjects and indices of their health risks. Body mass index (BMI) and ratio of waist to hip (WHR) were calculated. Body fat percentage was estimated using the biolectrical impedance method. Resting blood pressure (BP) of the subjects was assessed. Concentrations of serum total cholesterol (CHOL), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triacylglycerols (TG) and glucose (GL) were determined, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and the HDL-C/CHOL ratio were calculated. Physical working capacity (PWC170) of the subjects was estimated using a graded cycle ergometer test. The results of the Sharkey's questionaire showed differences in CHD risk scores in favour of young women in both physically active and passive groups. The WHR and body fat percentage were significantly higher in MA compared with YA. Statistically significant differences in body mass, BMI, WHR, body fat percentage, systolic and diastolic BP were revealed between two sedentary groups: parameters were higher in SM in comparison with YS. There were no statistically significant differences in PWC170/kg between young and middle-aged groups of the same level of their physical activity. Serum CHOL, LDL-C and GL concentrations were significantly higher in MA in comparison with YA. Between the sedentary groups there were significant differences in CHOL, TG and GL in favour of young non-athletes, and in HDL-C in favour of MS. Therefore, their HDL-C/CHOL ratio showed no differences. The results of the study showed that both YA and YS women had less CHD risk factors than middle-aged women of the analogous physical activity. Our study indicate that regular physical training three or more times per week helps to decrease CHD risk in middle-aged women but there were no positive impact in serum lipid and lipoprotein. Verf.-Referat