Impact of Changes in Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Hypertension, Dyslipidemia and Survival: An Overview of the Epidemiological Evidence

Over the last fifty years, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) has been firmly established as an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. Mounting evidence supports a strong and inverse association between baseline CRF and the risk of developing hypertension (HTN) and dyslipidemia. Accumulating evidence also suggests that improving or maintaining a certain level of CRF over time leads to lower incidence of HTN and dyslipidemia and improves survival. These findings are promising, with significant public health importance, and warrant further evaluation to elucidate the role of longitudinal changes in CRF during the lifespan on CVD morbidity and mortality, as well as all-cause survival.