Cardiovascular fitness among software professionals in Chennai

Rekha K et al., Int. J. Rev. Life. Sci., 3(2), 2013, 32-35

ISSN 2231-2935 Research Article www.ijrls.pharmascope.org

Cardiovascular fitness among software professionals in Chennai Rekha K*, Deepika Raj S, Vaiyapuri Anandh, Jagatheesan Alagesan Department of Cardio-Respiratory Physiotherapy, Saveetha College of Physiotherapy, Chennai – 602 105, Tamil Nadu, India ABSTRACT This study proposed to find out the level of cardiovascular fitness among software professionals. 531 software professionals were selected based on the selection criteria, Body Mass Index (BMI) was measured and subjects asked to perform the 3 minute step. Pulse rate was recorded before and after the 3 min step test. Measured pulse rate was compared with the YMCA fitness chart to find out cardiovascular fitness level. Study revealed 3 levels of cardiovascular fitness based on YMCA fitness chart, 25% Good to Excellent, 33% Average to Above Average, and 42% Poor to Fair among Software Professionals in that females have slightly poor cardiovascular fitness than men and the Percentage of BMI shows that 44% of software professionals have normal BMI and 56% are overweight. Keywords: 3 Minute step test; BMI; Cardiovascular fitness; Software professionals. INTRODUCTION Physical inactivity and poor cardiovascular fitness have been consistently associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases, like cardiovascular diseases (Timo A. Lakka et al., 2003). Low cardiovascular fitness has consistently been associated with an increased risk of premature death in prospective population-based studies. This has been mainly due to increased cardiovascular disease related mortality. Low cardiovascular fitness has been found to be as strong a predictor of mortality as the conventional modifiable risk factors, such as cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension (Jari A Laukkanen et al., 2001). Modern lifestyle has proven to be the stimulus for the growth of heart disease among the young professionals. According to population-based cross-sectional surveys In India, prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease expected increase to 17.9 million years in 2030 (almost ten times the projected loss of productive life in united states) (Abhinav Goyal et al., 2006). The importance of physical activity as a modifier of cardiovascular risk remains unequivocal sedentary population at risk for type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. Higher levels of physical activity and fitness are associated with reduction in cardiovascular risk (Terry AJ, 1990; Williams, 2001). Stepping was first used as a modality of exercise evalu* Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] Contact +91-9840545975 Received on: 31-05-2013 Revised on: 06-06-2013 Accepted on: 13-06-2013

ation in the early 1940. Over the past few decades, step tests have been shown to be clinically useful is estimating exercise tolerance in evaluating the risk of post-operative complications and in assessing effortrelated hypoxemia in different disease states. For this latter purpose, stepping is particularly attractive since it requires a minimum of space and technical expertise, especially if used in association with Oximetry (Terry AJ, 1990; Williams, 2001; Watkins 1984). Step tests vary in stepping frequency, bench height, test duration, the number of stages, and scoring method but the main purpose is to assess cardiovascular fitness. Kasch validated a single stage step test that used a 1 min post exercise recovery heart beat count to assess cardiovascular fitness. In 1970’s the national young men’s Christian association adopted a kasch step test as a convenient, quick means of assessing cardio respiratory fitness. Because of its wide use often referred to as the YMCA 3 minute step test (Golding L. A, 2000). Low physical activity and increased adiposity often occur in combination, masking their independent effects; it is unclear whether lower aerobic fitness or higher body fatness exerts a greater influence on cardiovascular disease risk factors (Christou DO et al., 2005). Lack of physical activity in daily life induces obesity and increases the risk of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and heart diseases. Obesity and physical inactivity comprise an important worldwide epidemic that has been linked to the metabolic syndrome (Sarika Chaudhary et al., 2010). Regular physical activity has been reported to be an effective means of improving cardio respiratory fitness and reducing waist circumference, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat independent of a corresponding change in body mass index (Ross R et al., 2004). Hence, this study is to assess car-

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Table 1: Demographic data of participants S.NO 1. 3. 4. 5.

Demographic Characteristics Age (years) Height (cm’s) Weight (Kgs) 2) BMI (Kg/m

Figure 1: Percentage values of the cardiovascular fitness in Software Professionals

Mean ± SD Male (282) Female (249) 32±3 29±2 161.6±4.4 157.3±3.7 61.8±3.1 65.2±2 24.6±2.25 25.6±2.08

Figure 2: Mean Comparison of cardiovascular fitness between Males & Females among Software Professionals

Figure 3: Comparison of BMI between Males and Females among software Professionals diovascular fitness among software professionals in Chennai, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS A Randomised cross sectional survey was taken up. Among 39 software companies in Chennai, 531 subjects were selected from systematic random sampling method. The subjects were selected based on the age group between 26-35 years and subjects were excluded if they had hypertension, diabetes type 1 & 2, obesity, cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disorder. Study was cleared by ethical committee and all participants signed informed consent for participation. Step test procedure Subjects were selected according to their selection criteria, Initially, height and weight were measured, and then subjects were asked to rest in a chair and their pulse rate were measured at radial artery by the 33

Figure 4: Percentage values of BMI among Software Professionals

researcher for 15 seconds and was multiplied by 4 for 60 seconds and were recorded. The procedure was clearly explained by the researcher to the subject before performing the step test, that is if the subject undergo any difficulties such as breathlessness, palpitations, chest pain, excessive sweating, and giddiness and any discomfort during the step test then they should immediately inform the researcher and the procedure will be stopped. Then the subjects were asked to perform the step test, Subject asked to Step on and off in 12 inch (30 cm) box for three minutes. Step up with one foot and then the other. Step down with one foot followed by the other foot. The subjects were asked to step up and down on the platform at a rate of 22 steps per minute for females and at 24 steps per minute for males. At the end of the 3 minutes step test, the subject were asked to sit down for 5 seconds followed by which a 15



seconds pulse rate was taken from the radial pulse and was multiplied into 4 and 60 seconds pulse rate was recorded and compared with the YMCA 3 Minute Step Test scoring. RESULTS Total 531 subjects included in the study, with 282 males and 249 females. Subjects were software professionals from both technical and programming departments. The demographic data has shown in table 1. This study revealed the 3 levels of cardiovascular fitness among software professionals of which 25% Good to Excellent, 33% Average to Above Average, and 42% Poor to Fair (figure1). Table 1 reveals the mean data of Age, Height, Weight and BMI. The values are expressed as Mean±SD. Figure 2 represents that mean comparison of cardiovascular fitness within 3 levels between males and females among the software professionals. Out of 531 software professionals, 57 males and 78 females are known to fall in good to excellent level, whereas 116 males and 57 females belong to average to above average level, 109 males and 114 females belong to be in poor to fair level of cardiovascular fitness. Figure 3 reveals the comparison of BMI between males and females among software professionals of which females have BMI of 25.642 which is greater than males that is 24.615. Figure 4 reveals the Percentage values of BMI shows that 44% of software professionals have normal BMI and 56% are overweight. DISCUSSION This study revealed that only 25% of the professionals had good to excellent level of cardiovascular fitness those population could have a protective effect against major risk factors. The rest 33% of the professionals are known to have average to above average level of cardiovascular fitness, whereas 42% of the software professionals had poor to fair level of cardiovascular fitness which could be contributed because of their work schedule and lack of physical activity which lead to poor cardiovascular fitness irrespective of the gender. Hence this study had been awareness for the software professionals regarding their cardiovascular fitness status which helps them to work on reducing the risk factors which contributed to poor cardiovascular fitness status such as diet, stress, physical inactivity, personal habits. Maarit Valtonen et al., (2009) states that Leisure time physical activity and cardio respiratory fitness seem to protect against chronic diseases such as the metabolic syndrome, type 2 diseases and cardiovascular disease. Moreover physically active lifestyle may improve mental health. Cardio respiratory fitness had a strong, graded, and inverse association with non-cardiovascular disease related mortality, primarily due to cancers and pulmonary diseases. It has been suggested that physical activ-

ity and good cardio respiratory fitness could reduce the risk of cancer through their beneficial effects on energy balance, the digestive system, hormonal concentrations, and changes in prostaglandin levels, antioxidant enzyme activities, or body mass (Paffenbarger RS et al., 1991). The initial assessment revealed that in Software Professional their routine work time has no limits, they also have challenging times almost every day to face new problems, due to this, both the genders are equally prone to develop stress. Software professionals continue to have lot of problems including obesity, diet, musculoskeletal problems and stress. They probably need long term on-site preventive programmes, continuous motivation and counseling to enhance work performance (Shrikant L. Patil, 2011). 44% of the software professionals have normal BMI and 56% of software professionals are overweight (figure 4). BMI also plays a major role to determine the fitness level it has been found that software professionals with BMI falling in overweight category are known to have poor to Fair cardiovascular fitness levels and minimal difference was observed between males and females in which females BMI are greater when compared with males. Overweight could add on to risk factors in the upcomings hence it is important to create awareness to enhance a protective effect against certain cardiovascular diseases by improving the cardiovascular fitness. Jari A Laukkanen et al., (2001) states that Poor cardio respiratory fitness is an important and independent risk factor for premature death and can be considered to be as important as smoking, hypertension, obesity and diabetes. CONCLUSION The present study revealed 3 levels of cardiovascular fitness 25% Good to Excellent, 33% Average to Above Average, and 42% of the Software professionals have poor to fair cardiovascular fitness level and the comparison between males and females shows that females are known to have slightly poor cardiovascular fitness than males and shows 44% of software professionals have normal BMI and 56% are overweight. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors express sincere thanks to the authorities of software companies for providing permission to conduct the survey and all the volunteers for participating in the survey. REFERENCES Abhinav Goyal, Salim Yusuf. The burden of cardiovascular disease in indian subcontinent. Indian J Med Res. 2006; 124: 235-244. AO Akinpelu et al., Graded association between cardiorespiratory fitness and skin folds thickness in adolescents. Nigerian journal of medical rehab. 2008; 1 & 2 (21): 31-34.


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