Significance of Aerobic Fitness in Early Detection and Primordial Prevention of Hypertension

Hypertension is quantitatively the major cardiovascular risk factor and responsible for-50 % of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is known to have a genetic factor and has various structural changes in heart and the blood vessels, which could lead to difference in aerobic fitness of apparently normotensive females having family history of HTN and those without family history of HTN. This is an observational cross sectional study including 67 apparent, normotensive, young females with and without family history of hypertension. Their vO2max was calculated as per the equation given by McArdle et al which was found to be decreased (44.262.73) in normotensive females with family history of HTN than those without any family history of HTN (45.552.36). Our study findings emphasize the importance of aerobic fitness in early detection of hypertensive changes, which could be helpful in implementing early interventions to improve aerobic fitness for primordial prevention of hypertension.