Impact of sports participation on cardiovascular health markers of children and adolescents: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Table 2 Arterial thickness

Ref.	Title of paper	Aim/purpose	Total sample, n = 273	Sample age	Follow-up time	Sports participation definition	Main results	Quality assessment1
Cayres-Santos et al[29], 2020	Sports participation improves metabolic profile in adolescents: ABCD growth study	To analyze the impact of participation in sports with different CRF demands on changes in metabolic and cardiovascular markers in adolescents	184 adolescents (n = 122 engaged in sports and n = 62 not engaged in sports)	Between 11-18	12 mo	High CRF: Basketball, swimming, tennis, and track and field. Low CRF: Baseball, gymnastics, judo, karate, and kung fu	Carotid IMT did not change in both sports with high [0.002 mm (95%CI: -0.018 to 0.023)] and low CRF [-0.001 mm (95%CI: -0.024 to 0.023)]. Femoral IMT did not change in both sports with high [0.013 mm (95%CI: -0.010 to 0.037)] and low CRF [-0.004 mm (95%CI: -0.024 to 0.033)]	8
Cayres et al[30], 2018	Sport-based physical activity recommendations and modifications in C-reactive protein and arterial thickness	We analyzed the effects of 1 yr of engagement in ≥ 300 min/wk of organized sports on inflammatory levels and vascular structure in adolescents	89 adolescents (n = 15 Sport practice and n = 74 non-sport practice)	Between 11-14	12 mo	Soccer, swimming, and others not shown	Carotid IMT did not change in the sports participation group [0.006 mm (95%CI: -0.013 to 0.024)], but Femoral IMT did [-0.043 mm (95%CI: -0.081 to -0.006)]	8

¹Quality Assessment according to Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (range 0 to 9) for cohort studies. CRF: Cardiorespiratory fitness; IMT: Intima-media thickness.